Patent Publication Number: US-2023136857-A1

Title: Attachment bodies and optical cable assemblies for mating with compact multiports

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/274,678 filed on Nov. 2, 2021, the content of which is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The disclosure is directed to optical cable assemblies, and, more particularly, to attachment bodies and optical cable assemblies using the attachment bodies that mate with a compact multiport. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Optical fiber is increasingly being used for a variety of applications, including but not limited to broadband voice, video, and data transmission. As bandwidth demands increase optical fiber is migrating deeper into communication networks such as in fiber to the premises applications such as FTTx, 5G, and the like. As optical fiber extends deeper into communication networks there exists a need for building more complex and flexible fiber optic networks in a quick and easy manner. 
     Multiports are devices for making an optical connection with hardened connectors such as the OptiTap® multiport sold by Corning Optical Communications, LLC of Charlotte, N.C. Prior art multiports have a plurality of receptacles mounted through a wall of the housing for protecting an indoor connector inside the housing that makes an optical connection to the external hardened connector of the branch or drop cable. 
     Recently, more compact next generation multiports or terminals have been developed, such as the Evolv™ multiport sold by Corning. Such compact next generation multiports have a reduced size for the shells and along with these smaller shell the next generation multiport have smaller ports for cable entry. These smaller ports of next generation multiports renders some legacy optical cables, such as round optical cables having a large outer diameter, incompatible for entering the ports of these compact next generation multiports as input tethers or input cables. 
     Consequently, there exists an unresolved need for devices and optical cable assemblies that enable interoperability between certain legacy optical cables and compact next generation multiports or terminals having relatively small ports. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosure is directed to attachment bodies and optical cable assemblies using these attachment bodies that enable legacy optical cables, such as round optical cables with large diameters, to be coupled or enter these next generation compact multiports or terminals. The attachment bodies provide an attachment interface for legacy optical cables to be used with these next generation multiports or terminals. 
     In one embodiment, an attachment body defines a passageway therein sized for receiving a portion of a cable therethrough for entering the next generation multiport or terminal with the relatively small port. The attachment body includes a cable insertion portion, wherein the cable insertion portion is round and defines a cable insertion face having a first area, a cable securing portion adjacent to the cable insertion portion, and a port insertion portion adjacent to the cable securing portion. The port insertion portion includes a distal end that is non-round. The distal end defines a port insertion face having a second area that is smaller than the first area. 
     In another embodiment, an optical cable assembly includes an attachment body defining a passageway therein sized for receiving a portion of a cable therethrough for entering the next generation multiport or terminal with the relatively small port. The attachment body includes a cable insertion portion, wherein the cable insertion portion is round and defines a cable insertion face having a first area, a cable securing portion adjacent to the cable insertion portion, and a port insertion portion adjacent to the cable securing portion. The port insertion portion has a distal end that defines a port insertion face having a second area that is less than the first area. The optical cable assembly further includes an optical cable including a round cable jacket, one or more strength members, a plurality of tubes, and at least one optical fiber in each tube of the plurality of tubes. The optical cable is disposed within the attachment body such that the round cable jacket terminates within the cable insertion portion, the one or more strength members terminates within the cable securing portion, and the plurality of tubes is disposed within the port insertion portion. 
     In yet another embodiment, a method of assembling an optical cable assembly, the method includes inserting an optical cable into a passageway within an attachment body. The attachment body includes a cable insertion portion, wherein the cable insertion portion is round and defines a cable insertion face having a first area, a cable securing portion adjacent to the cable insertion portion, and a port insertion portion adjacent to the cable securing portion. The port insertion portion has a distal end that defines a port insertion face having a second area that is less than the first area. The optical cable includes a round cable jacket, one or more strength members, a plurality of tubes, and at least one optical fiber in each tube of the plurality of tubes. The optical cable is disposed within the attachment body such that the round cable jacket terminates within the cable insertion portion, the one or more strength members terminates within the cable securing portion, and the plurality of tubes is disposed within the port insertion portion. The method further includes applying an adhesive in the passageway defined by the cable securing portion. 
     Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the same as described herein, including the detailed description that follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments that are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claims. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of an example compact multiport according to one or more embodiments described and illustrated herein; 
         FIG.  2 A  illustrates a perspective view of an example optical cable assembly according to one or more embodiments described and illustrated herein; 
         FIG.  2 B  illustrates a cutaway perspective view of the example optical cable assembly of  FIG.  2 A  according to one or more embodiments described and illustrated herein; 
         FIG.  2 C  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the example optical cable assembly of  FIG.  2 A  according to one or more embodiments described and illustrated herein; 
         FIG.  2 D  illustrates a rear end of a cable insertion portion of an example attachment body according to one or more embodiments described and illustrated herein; 
         FIG.  2 E  illustrates a front end of a port insertion portion of an example attachment body according to one or more embodiments described and illustrated herein; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates perspective views of an optical cable assembly inserted into a multiport according to one or more embodiments described and illustrated herein; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a perspective view of an adhesive surrounding a strength member according to one or more embodiments described and illustrated herein; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a digital image of a diced cable securing portion of an example optical connector according to one or more embodiments described and illustrated herein; and 
         FIG.  6    illustrates an example method for assembling an optical cable assembly according to one or more embodiments described and illustrated herein; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     References will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts. 
     The concepts for the attachment bodies and optical cable assemblies using the attachment bodies disclosed herein are suitable for providing attachment to a portion of a device such as a multiport or terminal for indoor, outdoor or other environments as desired. Generally speaking, the attachment bodies and optical cable assemblies using the attachment bodies disclosed and explained in the exemplary embodiments are operable to cooperate with multiports or terminals, but the concepts disclosed may be used with any suitable device as appropriate. As used herein, the term “multiport” or “terminal” means any device comprising at least one cable entry port having a securing feature associated with the at least one cable entry port for securing the attachment body. The multiport or terminal may also comprise at least one optical connection port for receiving an external fiber optic connector and may include an active device such as a wireless device having electronics for transmitting or receiving a signal as well. 
     Recently, multiports or terminals (e.g., device) having a compact design are being sold and deployed in optical networks. The multiports have at least one connection port and the securing feature associated with the connection port(s). Along with the connection ports, the multiport or terminals may use a similarly sized port for cable entry for optical fibers to enter the device such as a tethered stub entering the port or a tethered cable assembly entering the port of the device with a fiber optic connector at the far end for plug and play connectivity for the input of the device. 
     An example multiport or terminal is described in U.S. Pat. Publ. No. 2020/0057224, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. These multiports are scalable to many connection ports on a device in a variety of arrangements or constructions. The securing features of these multiports engage directly with a portion of an external connector of an optical cable assembly without conventional structures like prior art devices that require the turning of a coupling nut, bayonet or the like. Consequently, the connection ports or cable entry ports for these devices are typically smaller than some conventional cables that are widely used and accepted by network operators. 
     These devices exclude conventional securing features for the external fiber optic connectors, thereby making the connection ports and cable entry ports relatively small. Conventional securing features excludes threads and features that cooperate with bayonets on a connector that make the connection ports or cable entry port sizable in conventional devices. For these reasons, these next generation devices advantageously allow connection port(s) and/or cable entry ports to be closely spaced and may result in relatively small devices since the room need for turning a threaded coupling nut or bayonet is not necessary. The compact form-factors may allow the placement of the multiports in tight spaces in indoor, outdoor, buried, aerial, industrial or other applications while providing at least one connection port that is advantageous for a robust and reliable optical connection in a removable and replaceable manner. 
     Since the connector footprint used with this next generation of devices does not require the bulkiness of a coupling nut or bayonet, the fiber optic connectors and/or cable entry ports used with the devices disclosed herein may be significantly smaller than conventional connectors and cable entry ports used with conventional multiports. Moreover, the connection ports on the next generation devices allow an increased density of connection ports per volume of the shell since there is no need for accessing and turning the coupling nut or bayonets by hand for securing a fiber optic connector like the prior art multiports. 
     However, legacy optical connectors and optical cables may not be compatible with the connector ports of these compact multiports. For example, some legacy optical cables may be large in diameter, and therefore incapable of entering the compact cable entry ports of these next generation devices having a slim profile. By way of example, the devices can have a height of about 20 millimeters with a connection port or cable entry port of about 12 millimeters and aligned in an array on one end of the device such as depicted in  FIG.  1   . Further, such compact and slim devices may use a relatively small flat or round optical cable for the external fiber optic connector, which may leave larger conventional optical cables incapable of cable entry into these devices. 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure provide for an attachment body that provides compatibility to compact next generation devices for round optical cables and/or optical cables having a diameter that is traditionally too large for such next generation devices. Embodiments therefore provide compatibility for many legacy optical cables. 
     Various embodiments of optical connectors, optical cable assemblies, and methods of assembling an optical cable assembly are described in detail below. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  1   , an example multiport  100  operable to receive and mate external fiber optical connectors and receive optical cable assemblies at a cable entry port with a similar size as the input connection ports that receive the external fiber optic connectors as described here is illustrated. The example multiport  100  comprises a shell  110  comprising a body  132  with one or more connection ports  136  disposed on a first end or portion  112  with each connection port  136  comprising a respective optical connector opening  138 . The optical connector openings extend from an outer surface  134  of shell  110  of the multiport  100  into a cavity  116  and define a connection port passageway. One or more respective securing feature passageways extend from the outer surface  134  of the shell  110  to a portion of the respective connection port passageways. A plurality of securing features  210  are associated with the respective plurality of connection port passageways and at least a portion of the securing features are disposed within a portion of respective securing feature passageways. Moreover, the multiport  100  may have any suitable number of connection ports  136 , cable entry ports  160  or the like using the concepts disclosed. As shown, the cable entry port has a size that is similar to the connection ports  136 , and is not suitable for larger conventional fiber optic cables in a conventional manner. 
     The example multiport  100  includes integrated mounting features. By way of example, shell  110  depicts mounting features  110 MF disposed near first and second ends  112 , 114  of shell  110 . Mounting feature  110 MF adjacent the first end  112  is a mounting tab and the mounting feature  110 MF adjacent the second end  114  is a through hole. However, mounting features  110 MF may be disposed at any suitable location on the shell  110  or connection port insert  130 . For instance, multiport  100  also depicts a plurality of mounting features  110 MF configured as passage-ways disposed on the lateral sides. Thus, the user may simply use a fastener such as a zip-tie threaded thru these lateral passageways for mounting the multiport  100  to a wall or pole as desired. 
     The example multiport  100  has the cable entry port  160  disposed in an outboard position of the connection port insert  130 . However, the cable entry port  160  may be disposed in a medial portion of the multiport if desired. The cable entry port  160  may be configured in a suitable manner as appropriate for receiving a fiber optic cable or optical fibers. The connection ports  136  of the device may be configured as a single-fiber port or multi-fiber port. 
     Collectively referring now to  FIGS.  2 A- 2 B , an example optical cable assembly  10  having an example attachment body operable to cooperate with the cable entry port  160  or a connection port  136  of the multiport  100  illustrated in  FIG.  1   .  FIG.  2 A  is a perspective view of the optical cable assembly  10 ,  FIG.  2 B  is a cutaway perspective view of the optical cable assembly  10 , and  FIG.  2 C  is a cross-sectional view of the optical cable assembly. 
     The optical cable assembly  10  generally comprises an attachment body  20  and an optical cable  50 . The optical cable  50  is round in shape (i.e., it is generally circular in cross section) and has a diameter D that prevents it from being coupled to a compact multiport, such as the compact multiport  100  illustrated by  FIG.  1   . As described in more detail below, the attachment body  20  includes features that reduce the size of the optical cable  50  so that it is compatible with the multiport  100 . 
     The example optical cable  50  includes an outer jacket  51  that is round in shape. The outer jacket  51  may be made of any suitable material, such as, without limitation, a polymer. The outer jacket  51  constrains one or more strength members  52  and a plurality of tubes  53  holding one or more optical fibers  54  (see  FIG.  5   ). The one or more strength members  52  provide strength and rigidity to the optical cable  50 . The strength members  52  may be provided by, without limitation, one or more of aramid fibers or yarns, fiberglass, glass-reinforced polyester, steel rods and the like. 
     The plurality of tubes  53  are loose within the outer jacket  51 . It should be understood that in some embodiment only one tube is provided rather than a plurality of tubes, such as the case in a single-fiber embodiment. Referring briefly to  FIG.  5   , each tube  53  may include one or more optical fibers  54 . Each optical fiber may have an inner coating (which may be a polymer) that may be stripped to reveal an optical fiber comprising a core and an outer cladding as is known in the art. 
     Referring once again to  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C , the optical cable  50  is inserted into the attachment body  20  that reduces a size of the optical cable  50  at a distal end CE of the attachment body  20  as compared a size of the optical cable  50  having the outer jacket  51  at a cable insertion end IE of the attachment body  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  2 C , the attachment body  20  includes a body  20 A having three portions: a cable insertion portion PI, a cable securing portion PS, and a port insertion portion PP. Each of these portions will be described in-turn with reference to  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C . It is noted that a heat shrink  45  is illustrated as disposed over the cable insertion portion PI and part of the cable securing portion PS, which obscures the outer surfaces of these portions of the body  20 A. 
     The cable insertion portion PI is round or cylindrical in shape and has an inner diameter D 1  that is sized to accept the outer diameter D of the optical cable  50 . The inner diameter D 1  may be only slightly larger than the outer diameter D of the optical cable  50  so that the optical cable  50  tightly fits within the cable insertion portion PI. In some embodiments, the inner diameter D 1  of the cable insertion portion PI is slightly smaller than the diameter D of the optical cable  50  so that the outer jacket  51  of the optical cable  50  is compressed within the cable insertion portion PI. 
     Referring briefly to  FIG.  2 D , the cable insertion portion PI defines a cable insertion face  62  of the attachment body  20  that has a first area that is calculated using the outer diameter D 2  of the cable insertion portion PI. 
     As best shown in  FIGS.  2 B and  2 C , the inner diameter D 1  of the cable insertion portion is reduced such that the cable insertion portion PI has a jacket stop  61  configured as a ring surface. The outer jacket  51  is stripped prior to insertion into the attachment body  20 , thereby defining an edge  55  of the outer jacket  51 . When the optical cable  50  is inserted into the cable insertion portion PI, the edge  55  of the outer jacket  51  contacts the jacket stop  61  of the cable insertion portion PI. Thus, the jacket stop  61  acts as a hard stop for the optical cable  50 , thereby preventing further insertion of the optical cable  50  into the attachment body  20 . 
     The reduction in the inner diameter D 1  provides a transition to the cable securing portion PS, which has an inner diameter of D 3 . An outer diameter of the cable securing potion PS is smaller than that of the cable insertion portion PI, which provides for a circular ledge  43 . The circular ledge  43  provides an engagement feature for the heat shrink  45  that makes it more difficult to pull the heat shrink  45  off of the attachment body  20  by a longitudinal pulling force. 
     The outer surface of the cable securing portion PS further defines an outer ring  44 , which may be used as a surface to which the heat shrink  45  abuts, as well as a feature that abuts an outer surface of a multiport upon mating, as described in more detail below. 
     The outer surface of the cable securing portion PS may further include a sealing groove  33  that is operable to receive a sealing member  33 , such as an o-ring. The sealing member  33  may contact an inner surface of the passageway of a multiport to prevent moisture and debris from entering the multiport. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2 C , the one or more strength members  52  are cut so that the one or more strength members  52  is/are terminated within the cable securing portion PS. The one or more strength members  52  may be cut so that they extend a predetermined length L to ensure that an end of the one or more strength members  52  resides within the cable securing portion PS. 
     The cutting of the one or more strength members  52  creates a void  59  within the cable securing portion PS. The void  59  provides a space to receive an adhesive  80  (see  FIGS.  5  and  5   ). The adhesive  80  may be any suitable adhesive, such as a two-part polyurethane-based adhesive. The adhesive  80  is injected into the section of the passageway defined by the cable securing portion PS. The cable securing portion PS may include an adhesive injection port  81  to inject the adhesive into the cable securing portion PS. However, other methods for injecting the cable securing portion PS with adhesive may be provided. 
     The adhesive  80  secures the one or more strength members  52  to the body  20 A by wicking in between the individual tubes  53  and the one or more strength members  52 . The adhesive  80  may fill in the void  59 . 
       FIG.  4    provides a partial perspective view of the adhesive  80 , a strength member  52  and the body  20 A with the plurality of tubes  53  removed.  FIG.  5    provides a front view of a cable assembly that has been diced along line  5 - 5  of  FIG.  2 C . As shown in both  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the adhesive  80  surrounds the central strength member  52  and the plurality of tubes  53 . The adhesive  80  further bonds the central strength member  52  and the plurality of tubes to the body  20 A at the cable securing portion PS, thereby providing significant strain relief for the optical cable  50  with respect to the attachment body  20 . 
     Six sample optical cable assemblies were fabricated according to  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C . The optical cable was secured to the attachment body using a polyurethane adhesive. The strain relief capabilities of the six sample optical cable assemblies were tested by applying a tensile force. The amount of tensile force and the elongation at break were recorded when the optical cable broke free from the connector body. The results are shown in Table 1 below. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Specimen  
                 Force σ M   
                 Elongation at  
               
               
                 No. 
                 (N) 
                 Break (ε B ) % 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 1 
                 1060 
                 68.4 
               
               
                 2 
                 1220 
                 74.6 
               
               
                 3 
                 1130 
                 4.8 
               
               
                 4 
                 1330 
                 35.8 
               
               
                 5 
                 1530 
                 47.1 
               
               
                 6 
                 1190 
                 55.2 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 1 illustrates how each sample shows a high tensile force of above 1000N at the breaking point. 
     Referring once again to  FIGS.  2 A- 2 C , the port insertion portion PP, which is the portion of the attachment body  20  that is inserted into a cable entry port of a multiport, is adjacent to the cable securing portion PS. The height of the passageway within the attachment body  20  in the cable securing portion PS (the height is defined by inner diameter D 3  in the cable securing portion) gradually decreases from the inner diameter D 3  to a height h. The port insertion portion PP has a tapered interior wall  36  that reduces the height of the passageway. The tapered interior wall  36  forces the individual tubes  53  closer to one another so that they converge in an array defined by one or more rows. 
     The port insertion portion PP has a shape that is non-round. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner passageway and the exterior surface of the port insertion portion PP are both substantially discorectangular. However, it should be understood that other shapes are possible depending on the shape of the ports on the multiport. Referring specifically to  FIG.  2 A , the discorectangular outer surface of the port insertion portion PP includes a first semi-circle surface  21 A, a second semi-circle surface  21 B, a first flat surface  28 A, and a second flat surface  28 B. The shape of the port insertion portion PP is such that it may be inserted into a connection port of a multiport. Referring briefly to  FIG.  2 E , the insertion end of the port insertion portion PP defines an insertion face  24  having a second area that is smaller than the first area of the body  20 A illustrated in  FIG.  2 C . The second area is the area that is encompassed by the outer surface  25  of the body  20 A. Due to the second area being smaller than the first area, the body  20 A is operable to reduce the size of the attachment body  20  at the port insertion portion PP as compared to the cable insertion portion PI. In this matter, the attachment body  20  enables an optical cable that is not compatible with small, compact next generation multiports or terminals to be used with such devices for cable entry. 
     The passageway  27  within the port insertion portion PP is sized and shaped to arrange the plurality of tubes  53  into an array of rows and columns. As shown in  FIG.  2 A , the illustrated example provides two rows and three columns of tubes  53  holding optical fibers. However, any number of rows and columns may be provided. The passageway  27  within the port insertion portion PP is substantially discorectangular in shape to force the plurality of tubes  53 , which are provided in a radial arrangement in the optical cable  50  (see  FIG.  5   ) into an array of rows and columns. Thus, the passageway  27  has a width w that is greater than a height h (see  FIG.  2   ). 
     The port insertion portion PP may also include an annular groove  31  for seating a sealing member  32 , such as an o-ring. Like sealing member  34 , sealing member  32  may prevent moisture and debris from entering the multiport when the optical connector  20  is mated to the multiport. 
     The port insertion portion PP may further include engagement features for mating with corresponding engagement features of the multiport or terminal to ensure a proper mated connection between the attachment body  20  and the device. The example body  20 A includes a first engagement feature configured as a longitudinal port engagement groove  22  disposed in the second flat surface  28 B. As described in more detail with reference to  FIG.  3   , the longitudinal port engagement groove  22  is configured to receive a flange within a port of multiport or terminal. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  3   , a cutaway perspective view of an attachment body  20  inserted into a connection port  138  of a compact multiport or terminal  100 . A top cover of the shell  110  is removed to illustrate the attachment body  20  within the multiport  100 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the port insertion portion PP of the body  20 A is inserted into a connection port  138  of the multiport (or an cable entry port  160 ). A flange  161  within the opening of the connection port  138  is operable to be disposed within the longitudinal port engagement groove  22  of the port insertion portion PP. Cooperation between the flange  161  and the longitudinal port engagement groove  22  provides keying so that the attachment body  20  can only be inserted into the connection port  138  or cable entry port  160  in one proper orientation. The sealing members  32 ,  34  are pressed against an inner wall  162  of the passageway defined by the connection port  138  to provide a sealing function that prevents moisture and debris from entering the multiport  100 . 
     The longitudinal port engagement groove  22  terminates in a flange stop  26  that is operable to provide a hard stop surface for the flange  161  when the port insertion portion PP is fully inserted into the connection port  138  or cable entry port  160 . Additionally, an outer housing stop  44  may also be provided to provide a hard stop against an outer surface  134  of the shell. 
     Securing features ( FIG.  1   ) may be used to lock the attachment body  20  within a port of the multiport or terminal. Non-limiting examples of securing features are described in U.S. Pat. Publ. No. 2020/0057224. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  6   , an example method  200  of assembling an optical cable assembly is illustrated. At block  202 , an outer jacket  51  of a round optical cable  50  is stripped away, for example, using any known cable stripping tool or method. Stripping the outer jacket  51  exposes a plurality of tubes  53  each holding one or more optical fibers, and one or more strength members  52 . 
     At block  204 , the one or more strength members  52  are cut such that the plurality of tubes  53  is longer than the one or more strength members  52 . The one or more strength members  52  are cut such that it/they extend a length L from an end of the outer jacket  53  to ensure it will terminate in a cable securing portion PS. 
     At block  206 , the optical cable  50  is inserted into a body  20 A at a cable insertion portion PI until the end  55  of the outer jacket  51  contacts the jacket stop  61 . At this point, the plurality of tubes  53  should be arranged in an array at a port insertion portion PP. 
     At block  208 , an adhesive, such as a polyurethane-based adhesive, is injected into the cable securing portion PS. The adhesive may be injected through a port  81 , for example. Finally, at block  209 , the adhesive is allowed to cure. 
     It should now be understood that embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to attachment bodies and optical cable assemblies using the attachment bodies that enable round (i.e., generally cylindrical) multi-fiber optical cables to entry and be secured to a compact next generation multiport or terminal wherein a diameter of a port opening is smaller than an outer diameter of the optical cable. The attachment bodies described herein change an arrangement of optical fibers from a radial arrangement to an array defined by rows and columns. The attachment bodies described herein expand the number of optical cable types that may be mated with compact multiports or terminals that otherwise would not be compatible. 
     For the purposes of describing and defining the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is noted that the terms “approximately” and “substantially” are utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. The terms “approximately” and “substantially” are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue. 
     It is noted that recitations herein of a component of the embodiments being “configured” in a particular way, “configured” to embody a particular property, or function in a particular manner, are structural recitations as opposed to recitations of intended use. More specifically, the references herein to the manner in which a component is “configured” denotes an existing physical condition of the component and, as such, is to be taken as a definite recitation of the structural characteristics of the component. 
     It is noted that one or more of the following claims utilize the term “wherein” as a transitional phrase. For the purposes of defining the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is noted that this term is introduced in the claims as an open-ended transitional phrase that is used to introduce a recitation of a series of characteristics of the structure and should be interpreted in like manner as the more commonly used open-ended preamble term “comprising.” 
     Although the disclosure has been illustrated and described herein with reference to explanatory embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples can perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. For instance, the connection port insert may be configured as individual sleeves that are inserted into a passageway of a device, thereby allowing the selection of different configurations of connector ports for a device to tailor the device to the desired external connector. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the disclosure and are intended to be covered by the appended claims. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the concepts disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the same. Thus, it is intended that the present application cover the modifications and variations provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.