US 12,078,846 B2
Butt closures and bases therefor
David Wittmeier, Greer, SC (US); Cecilia Stout, Taylors, SC (US); and Edward Kimbrell, Dacula, GA (US)
Assigned to AFL Telecommunications LLC, Duncan, SC (US)
Filed by AFL Telecommunications LLC, Duncan, SC (US)
Filed on Jan. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/153,350.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/119,553, filed on Nov. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0171136 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G02B 6/36 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/3644 (2013.01) 29 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A butt closure base, comprising:
a base housing extending along a longitudinal axis between a first outer surface and a second outer surface, the base housing defining a plurality of cavities between the first and second outer surfaces, the plurality of cavities aligned in an annular array, wherein a first gel is disposed in each of the plurality of cavities;
a plurality of wedge assemblies, each of the plurality of wedge assemblies removably insertable into one of the plurality of cavities, each of the plurality of wedge assemblies comprising an outer cover and a second gel, wherein each of the plurality of wedge assemblies comprises an outer flange extending from the outer cover, and wherein each of the plurality of wedge assemblies comprises a plurality of apertures defined at an intersection between the outer flange and the outer cover, wherein the second gel extends through each of the plurality of apertures such that a portion of the second gel is exterior to the respective wedge assembly;
a plurality of cable entry passages, each of the plurality of cable entry passages defined between one of the plurality of cavities and one of the plurality of wedge assemblies.