Patent ID: 7085468

Claim:
A fixture for supporting subscriber specific fiber optic drop wire extending from a cable closure containing a connection between the fiber optic drop wire and a fiber optic cable supported by utility poles, said fixture comprising a bend radius protector having a grooved periphery of a radius at least as great as the minimum drop wire bend radius but less than the fiber optic cable bend radius, and means for suspending the bend radius protector from the cable, a cable support messenger or a pole wherein the bend radius protector comprises a channel formed in the shape of a horseshoe, the channel having a central web an upper and lower flanges defining a groove facing outward, the horseshoe having ends which are flared outward to prevent the bend radius protector from cutting or abrading the drop wire, wherein the flared ends are produced by bending corners of the flanges away from one another about 90° along bend lines extending at about 45° to the length of the ends.