Patent ID: 7499621

Claim:
An optical fiber splice enclosure including a generally tubular housing having an open end and a closed end and a protective casing base component fitted to the open end of the housing, which base component has an opening through which a plurality of optical fiber cables can pass into and out of the enclosure in use for the individual optical fibers in the cables to be spliced or connected to other such optical fibers within the enclosure, wherein the base component is formed of two semi-cylindrical parts, or of a single cylindrical element having a wall which is at least partially flexible and/or resilient and has a longitudinal slit or slot in the wall through which an intermediate part of an optical fiber cable can be passed laterally thereof, whereby the base component can be positioned or removed from a cable or a plurality of cables at an intermediate point along the length thereof without interrupting the continuity of the cables, and the base component has means for sealing the interior of the enclosure from external agencies including means for sealing the open end of the housing to the said base component, and wherein the base component has (i) a generally radial flange at one end thereof and two generally parallel longitudinal edges in the face of one of which there is an axially extending channel and in the face of the other of which there is a cooperating axially extending ridge which enters the channel when the base component is fitted together around the cables; and (ii) an annular skirt portion extending axially away from the said radial flange to form a seat region for a sealant gel between the base component and the said open end of the housing; and wherein the said axial channel in the face of one longitudinal edge communicates with the seat region defined by the said radial flange and the said annular skirt portion of the base component to allow a continuous bead of gel to extend around the annular region at the end of the base component and axially along the interface between the said longitudinal edges thereof.