US 12,242,110 B2
Terminating a cable assembly with connectorized pigtails
Cyle D. Petersen, Belle Plaine, MN (US); Thomas Marcouiller, Shakopee, MN (US); and John Paul Anderson, Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Assigned to CommScope Technologies LLC, Hickory, NC (US)
Filed by CommScope Technologies LLC, Hickory, NC (US)
Filed on Jan. 22, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/418,936.
Application 18/418,936 is a continuation of application No. 17/217,470, filed on Mar. 30, 2021, granted, now 11,906,782.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/002,402, filed on Mar. 31, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0302593 A1, Sep. 12, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G02B 6/25 (2006.01); G02B 6/255 (2006.01); G02B 6/44 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/2558 (2013.01) [G02B 6/443 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multi-fiber cable assembly comprising:
a conduit extending along a length between opposite first and second ends, the conduit defining an axial passage extending between the first and second ends;
a trunk segment including a plurality of trunk cable fibers surrounded by a jacket;
a plurality of pigtail segments, each pigtail segment including a plurality of pigtail fibers extending from first ends to second ends, the first ends of each pigtail segment being terminated at a respective multi-fiber connector, the second ends of each pigtail segment being spliced at a respective mass fusion splice to first ends of at least some of the trunk cable fibers, the mass fusion splices being disposed at axially spaced positions within the axial passage of the conduit;
a first encapsulation disposed at the first end of the conduit, the first encapsulation surrounding a first section of the trunk cable fibers and holding the first section fixed relative to the first end of the conduit;
a second encapsulation disposed at the second end of the conduit so that the second encapsulation is spaced from the first encapsulation by at least a majority of the length of the conduit, the second encapsulation surrounding a second section of the pigtail cable fibers and holding the second section fixed relative to the second end of the conduit; and
a protective sheathing disposed around at least a portion of the pigtail segments, the protective sheathing extending between a first end and a second end, the first end of the protective sheathing being embedded in the second encapsulation.