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US5261018A
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US
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Optical-coupler reinforcing material and optical-coupler reinforcing method
Assignee: Sumiden Opcom Ltd
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Filing: 1992-02-26
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Granted: 1993-11-09
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Expires: 2012-02-26
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides an optical-coupler reinforcing member for fixing and reinforcing a fiber-coupler body and a method of performing the reinforcing. The reinforcing member includes heat-shrinkage tubes which are shrunk by heating, and a hollow protection pipe provided in the heat-shrinkage tubes. Cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive members are provided on opposite ends of the protection pipe, and heating is made such that a fusing portion of an optical-fiber coupler body is inserted through the reinforcing member so that the heat-fusible adhesive members and the heat-shrinkage tubes are shrunk by heating to thereby fix and reinforce the optical coupler body.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Suganuma
- 👤 Tomoyuki Hattori
- 👤 Junichi Yoshikawa
- 👤 Hiroaki Takimoto
- 👤 Hiroshi Yokota
- 👤 Nobuo Tomita
- 👤 Kazuhiko Arimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:28
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/255; G02B6/2558; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2821; G02B6/2835
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
42 words
A reinforcing member for an optical-fiber coupler consisting essentially of: a straight hollow protection pipe; cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive members provided on opposite ends of said hollow protection pipe; and a heat-shrinkage tube positioned around said cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive and hollow protection pipe.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
42 words
A reinforcing member for an optical-fiber coupler consisting essentially of: a straight hollow protection pipe; cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive members provided on opposite ends of said hollow protection pipe; and a heat-shrinkage tube positioned around said cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive and hollow protection pipe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The reinforcing member according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive is selected from the group consisting of ethylene group copolymer resin, a low-melting point metal, hollow melting glass and wax.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The reinforcing member according to claim 1 wherein said pipe is constructed of quartz glass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The reinforcing member according to claim 1 wherein said pipe is constructed of a material similar to quartz glass such that said material has a coefficient of linear expansion different from quartz glass wherein said difference is not greater from 1×10 -4 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The reinforcing member according to claim 1 wherein said cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive members are provided such that the heat-fusible adhesive is partially inserted on each end of said hollow pipe and the heat-shrinkage tube is positioned over each end of said hollow pipe and heat-fusible adhesive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The reinforcing member according to claim 1, wherein the heat fusible adhesive fuses more rapidly than the heat shrinkage tube shrinks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
A reinforcing member for an optical-fiber coupler comprising: a hollow straight protection pipe; cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive members provided on opposite ends of said hollow protection pipe; and a heat-shrinkage tube positioned around said cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive and hollow protection pipe, wherein said adhesive is selected from the group consisting of ethylene group copolymer resin, a low-melting point metal, hollow melting glass and wax.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A reinforcing member for an optical-fiber coupler comprising: a hollow straight protection pipe; cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive members provided on opposite ends of said hollow protection pipe; and a heat-shrinkage tube positioned around said cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive and hollow protection pipe, wherein said adhesive is selected from the group consisting of ethylene group copolymer resin, a low-melting point metal, hollow melting glass and wax.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The reinforcing member according to claim 7 wherein said pipe is constructed of quartz glass.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The reinforcing member according to claim 7 wherein said pipe is constructed of a material similar to quartz glass such that said material has a coefficient of linear expansion different from quartz glass wherein said difference is not greater than 1×10 -4 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The reinforcing member according to claim 7 wherein said cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive members are provided such that the heat-fusible adhesive is partially inserted on each end of said hollow pipe and the heat-shrinkage tube is positioned over each end of said hollow pipe and heat-fusible adhesive.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
A reinforcing member for an optical-fiber coupler comprising: a hollow protection pipe; cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive members provided on opposite ends of said hollow protection pipe; and a heat-shrinkage tube positioned around said cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive and hollow protection pipe, wherein said pipe is constructed of a material similar to quartz glass such that said material has a coefficient of linear expansion different from quartz glass wherein said difference is not greater than 1×10-4.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
A reinforcing member for an optical-fiber coupler comprising: a hollow protection pipe; cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive members provided on opposite ends of said hollow protection pipe; and a heat-shrinkage tube positioned around said cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive and hollow protection pipe, wherein said pipe is constructed of a material similar to quartz glass such that said material has a coefficient of linear expansion different from quartz glass wherein said difference is not greater than 1×10-4.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of reinforcing an optical-fiber coupler comprising the steps of: inserting an optical-fiber coupler into the hollow protection pipe of a reinforcing member for an optical-fiber coupler consisting essentially of: a hollow protection pipe; cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive members provided on opposite ends of said hollow protection pipe; and a heat-shrinkage tube positioned around said cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive and hollow protection pipe; such that a fusing portion of said coupler is disposed centrally in the axial direction of said protection pipe; and heating said reinforcing member with inserted coupler such that the heat-fusible adhesive is adhered and the heat-shrinkage tube is shrunk.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of reinforcing an optical-fiber coupler comprising the steps of: inserting an optical-fiber coupler into the hollow protection pipe of a reinforcing member for an optical-fiber coupler consisting essentially of: a hollow protection pipe; cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive members provided on opposite ends of said hollow protection pipe; and a heat-shrinkage tube positioned around said cylindrical heat-fusible adhesive and hollow protection pipe; such that a fusing portion of said coupler is disposed centrally in the axial direction of said protection pipe; and heating said reinforcing member with inserted coupler such that the heat-fusible adhesive is adhered and the heat-shrinkage tube is shrunk.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-11-08 | 1997-05-10 | 1997-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-08 | 2001-05-10 | 2001-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-08 | 2005-05-10 | 2005-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |