Patent ID: 8376632

Claim:
A fiber optic drop cable assembly, comprising: a fiber optic cable having strength components that define a preferential bend axis, and having an end portion; a fiber optic connector operably coupled to the fiber optic cable at the end portion of the fiber optic cable; a strain-relief member comprising a cylindrical portion at a connector end connected to the fiber optic connector and a tapered portion extending axially from the cylindrical portion and surrounding the fiber optic cable, an outer surface of the strain relief member reducing in outer dimension from the cylindrical portion to the tapered portion, the strain-relief member comprising a wall formed of a flexible material having varying wall thickness to limit an amount of strain in the strength components within the strain relief member to less than 0.041 when subjected to a flex test carried out at −40° C. and +40° C., with −90° and +90° bends, at torsion angles of 0°, +45° and +90°, and with a 15 lb load; wherein the wall of the strain relief member has a maximum wall thickness in the cylindrical portion, the varying wall thickness decreasing from the maximum wall thickness in the cylindrical portion along a length of the tapered portion.