Patent ID: 8761559

Claim:
A fiber optic distribution cable, comprising: a jacket defining an exterior of the fiber optic distribution cable, wherein the jacket defines a cavity therein and has an opening formed in the jacket that extends to the cavity, and wherein the opening is a slot; a plurality of optical fibers extending through the cavity of the jacket, the plurality of optical fibers comprising a distribution optical fiber that extends through and protrudes from the opening in the jacket, wherein the fiber optic distribution cable has a tubeless design such that the cavity immediately surrounds the plurality of optical fibers, wherein the length of the distribution optical fiber protruding from the opening in the jacket is at least 5/4 times the length of the opening, wherein the distribution cable is a flat ribbon cable, wherein the plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a stack of fiber optic ribbons, and wherein the cavity is a rectangular cavity, whereby the cavity shape mitigates stresses on corner fibers of the ribbon stack; the fiber optic distribution further comprising: strength members that provide tensile and anti-buckling strength to the distribution cable, wherein the strength members are disposed on opposite sides of the cavity and impart a preferential bend characteristic to the distribution cable; wherein the distribution cable has a dry construction such that the cable excludes a grease or gel for water-blocking, and wherein the distribution cable includes water-swellable components for water-blocking.