Patent ID: 8111967

Claim:
A mechanical splice apparatus, comprising: a mechanical splice with a plurality of grooves, wherein the mechanical splice receives a first optical fiber through a first end of the mechanical splice, where the first optical fiber resides in a first portion of the mechanical splice, and the mechanical splice receives a second optical fiber through a second end of the mechanical splice, where the second optical fiber resides in a second portion of the mechanical splice; a first aligning component with a first wedge, wherein, when the first wedge is engaged in a first groove of the plurality of grooves of the mechanical splice, a first opening is formed in the first portion of the mechanical splice, and, when the first wedge is disengaged from the first groove, the first opening closes; and a second aligning component with a second wedge, wherein, when the second wedge is engaged in a second groove of the plurality of grooves of the mechanical splice, a second opening is formed in the second portion of the mechanical splice, and, when the second wedge is disengaged from the second groove, the second opening closes.