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US4448481A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fiber optic clamp

Assignee: Globe Motors Inc
•
Filing: 1981-06-22
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Granted: 1984-05-15
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Expires: 2001-06-22
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Abstract

Abstract An optical fiber clamp comprises two clamping portions with rounded fiber clamping surfaces for clamping an optical fiber therebetween. Each clamping portion includes a semicylindrical projection which extends normal to the axis of the clamped fiber and is complimentary to the projection of the other clamping portion to form a laterally extending support stud when a fiber is clamped. The stud is inserted in a mounting block to secure the fiber a fixed distance above and parallel to the upper surface of the mounting block. A cantilevered fiber support extends from the first and second clamping portions and comprises a three-quarter round cylindrical section extending from one side of the first clamping portion and a reversed three-quarter round cylindrical section extending from the opposite side of the second clamping portion. The clamping portions are preferably interconnected by a hinge portion in a unitary structure to facilitate wrapping the clamping portions about a fiber.

Inventors

  • 👤 Emma Basov
  • 👤 Igor Grois
  • 👤 Mark Margolin
  • 👤 Alan Berg

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 22:45
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/381; G02B6/3817; G02B6/3887; G02B6/3888; G02B6/389; G02B6/3826; G02B6/383

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 94 words
An optical fiber clamp comprising a pair only of elongate clamping portions disposed in a fiber clamping configuration with said clamping portions situated side-by-side, said clamping portions having clamping ends, clamping surfaces at said clamping ends disposed in confronting clamping relation to one another for clamping an optical fiber therebetween with the fiber extending transverse to said clamping portions, and distal ends disposed side-by-side with their adjacent sides in contact, and means engaging said distal ends only for holding said distal ends in contact and thereby retaining said clamping surfaces in said clamping relation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 94 words
An optical fiber clamp comprising a pair only of elongate clamping portions disposed in a fiber clamping configuration with said clamping portions situated side-by-side, said clamping portions having clamping ends, clamping surfaces at said clamping ends disposed in confronting clamping relation to one another for clamping an optical fiber therebetween with the fiber extending transverse to said clamping portions, and distal ends disposed side-by-side with their adjacent sides in contact, and means engaging said distal ends only for holding said distal ends in contact and thereby retaining said clamping surfaces in said clamping relation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
A clamp as in claim 1 wherein said clamping surfaces are rounded convex surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
A clamp as in claim 1 wherein each of said distal ends is of semicylindrical configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
A clamp as in claim 1 wherein said means engaging said distal ends only is a mounting element containing an opening receiving said distal ends in close-fitting engagement to maintain said clamping surfaces in clamping relation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
A clamp as in claim 1 including support projections at opposite sides of said clamping portions having fiber supporting surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 68 words
A clamp as in claim 5 wherein each of said support projections comprises a three-quarter round cylindrical section oriented when viewed along the axis of a clamped fiber so that one support projection constitutes a cylindrical section extending from the three o'clock position to the twelve o'clock positin and the other support projection constitutes a cylindrical section extending from the twelve o'clock position to the nine o'clock position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 14 words
A clamp as in claim 5 wherein said fiber supporting surfaces are convex surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 35 words
A clamp as in claim 1 including a flexible hinge portion integrally joining said clamping ends of said clamping portions, whereby said clamp is foldable at said hinge portion to and from said clamping configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
A clamp as in claim 8 wherein said hinge portion has an aperture therethrough to receive an implement for separating said clamping surfaces when said clamp occupies said clamping configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 145 words
An optical fiber clamp comprising a pair only of elongate clamping portions having clamping ends, clamping surfaces adjacent said clamping ends, distal ends, and a flexible hinge portion integrally joining said clamping ends of said clamping portions and defining a hinge axis, whereby said clamp may be folded at said hinge portion by essentially relative rotation of said clamping portions substantially about said hinge axis into a fiber clamping configuration wherein said clamping portions are situated side-by-side with said clamping surfaces disposed in confronting clamping relation to one another to clamp an optical fiber between said surfaces with the fiber extending transverse to said clamping portions and with said distal ends disposed side-by-side with their adjacent sides in contact to permit retention of said clamp in said clamping configuration by exerting external forces on said distal ends only to retain said distal ends in contact.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 145 words
An optical fiber clamp comprising a pair only of elongate clamping portions having clamping ends, clamping surfaces adjacent said clamping ends, distal ends, and a flexible hinge portion integrally joining said clamping ends of said clamping portions and defining a hinge axis, whereby said clamp may be folded at said hinge portion by essentially relative rotation of said clamping portions substantially about said hinge axis into a fiber clamping configuration wherein said clamping portions are situated side-by-side with said clamping surfaces disposed in confronting clamping relation to one another to clamp an optical fiber between said surfaces with the fiber extending transverse to said clamping portions and with said distal ends disposed side-by-side with their adjacent sides in contact to permit retention of said clamp in said clamping configuration by exerting external forces on said distal ends only to retain said distal ends in contact.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 42 words
A clamp as in claim 10 wherein said distal ends when in contact form a post adapted to be inserted into a mating opening in a mounting element for retaining said distal ends in contact and said clamping surfaces in clamping relation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 14 words
A clamp as in claim 10 wherein said clamping surfaces are rounded convex surfaces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 30 words
A clamp as in claim 10 wherein said hinge portion has an aperture therethrough to receive an implement for separating said clamping surfaces when said clamp occupies said clamping configuration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 16 words
A clamp as in claim 10 wherein each of said distal ends is of semicylindrical configuration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 28 words
A clamp as in claim 10 including a mounting element containing an opening receiving said distal ends in close-fitting engagement to maintain said clamping surfaces in clamping relation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 20 words
A clamp as in claim 10 including support projections at opposite sides of said clamping portions having fiber supporting surfaces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 68 words
A clamp as in claim 16 wherein each of said support projections comprises a three-quarter round cylindrical section oriented when viewed along the axis of a clamped fiber so that one support projection constitutes a cylindrical section extending from the three o'clock position to the twelve o'clock position and the other support projection constitutes a cylindrical section extending from the twelve o'clock position to the nine o'clock position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 14 words
A clamp as in claim 16 wherein said fiber supporting surfaces are convex surfaces.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2790153A Cited
US4050783A Cited
US4040702A Cited
US4113179A Cited
US4225214A Cited
US4247163A Cited
US4339172A Cited
US4354731A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-05-15 1987-11-14 1988-05-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-05-15 1991-11-14 1992-05-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-05-15 1995-11-14 1996-05-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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