Patent ID: 8622634

Claim:
A ferrule assembly comprising: a ferrule comprising a ferrule boot insertion end; and a ferrule boot defining an optical fiber channel, comprising: an outer shell defining an outer shell channel extending therethrough, the outer shell comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, an optical fiber insertion end, and a ferrule insertion end; and a heat-activated adhesive liner positioned within the outer shell channel and coupled to the inner surface of the outer shell; wherein: the outer shell is sized to be at least partially inserted into the ferrule boot insertion end; the optical fiber channel is shaped to receive a plurality of optical fibers; the outer shell has a thermal melting point that is greater than a thermal melting point of the heat-activated adhesive liner such that the heat-activated adhesive liner melts to adhere the plurality of optical fibers to the outer shell upon receipt of thermal energy; and wherein the ferrule boot inhibits an epoxy inserted into the ferrule from escaping the ferrule boot insertion end of the ferrule when the ferrule insertion end of the ferrule boot is positioned within the ferrule boot insertion end of the ferrule and the epoxy is applied to the ferrule.