EP0484687A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reinforced protective tube for optical waveguide fibers
Assignee: Corning Inc
•
Filing: 1991-10-10
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2011-10-10
Abstract
Abstract Reinforced protective tubes for optical waveguide fibers are provided. The tubes include an inner layer of a polyester elastomer, an outer layer of a polyvinyl chloride polymer, and two longitudinal reinforcing members composed of aramid fibers. The tubes have low thermal expansion, an outside diameter of less than about 1,000 microns, and can be used to form the pigtails of optical waveguide couplers. Methods for producing the protective tubes in which the reinforcing members and the plastic layers are coated onto a removable core member are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Rengan Corning Incorporated Kannabiran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 01:29
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4429; G02B6/443; G02B6/4431; G02B6/4432
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A protective tube for an optical waveguide fiber comprising: (a) a first plastic tubular member having an inner surface and an outer surface; (b) a second plastic tubular member having an inner surface and an outer surface; and (c) at least one flexible strength member; wherein: (i) substantial portions of the outer surface of the first tubular member and the inner surface of the second tubular member are in contact, and (ii) the at least one flexible strength member lies between and is in contact with both the outer surface of the first tubular member and the inner surface of the second tubular member but is not substantially embedded in either of those tubular members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
The protective tube of Claim 1 wherein essentially the entire outer surface of the first tubular member is in contact with essentially the entire inner surface of the second tubular member except for the portions of those surfaces which are in the region of the at least one flexible strength member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The protective tube of Claim 1 or 2 wherein the first tubular member is more flexible than the second tubular member and/or the tensile strength of the second tubular member is greater than the tensile strength of the first tubular member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The protective tube of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the first tubular member is composed of a polyester elastomer, the second tubular member is composed of a polyvinyl chloride polymer, and/or at least one flexible strength member is composed of aramid fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The protective tube of Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the at least one flexible strength member has a coefficient of thermal expansion whose magnitude is less than about 10⁻⁵ cm/cm/ o C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The protective tube of any one of claims 1-5 wherein the at least one flexible strength member has a negative coefficient of thermal expansion and the first and second tubular members each have a positive coefficient of thermal expansion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The protective tube of any one of claims 1-6 wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the first tubular member is coated with tetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The protective tube according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized by the use as a protective tube loosely surrounding the waveguide fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The protective tube according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized by the use in the pigtails of an optical waveguide coupler.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
Method of making the protective tube for an optical waveguide fiber according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized by the steps of: (a) providing a core member whose outer surface has a low coefficient of friction, or to applying such a coating thereto; (b) applying a first layer of plastic material to the core member; (c) applying at least one strength member and a second layer of plastic material onto the first layer of plastic material; and (d) removing the core member to produce the protective tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.