US 12,078,849 B2
Optical fiber alignment device and method
Michael James Ott, Hudson, WI (US)
Assigned to CommScope Technologies LLC, Hickory, NC (US)
Filed by CommScope Technologies LLC, Hickory, NC (US)
Filed on Mar. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/190,659.
Application 18/190,659 is a continuation of application No. 17/390,103, filed on Jul. 30, 2021, granted, now 11,614,589.
Application 17/390,103 is a continuation of application No. 16/723,169, filed on Dec. 20, 2019, granted, now 11,092,755, issued on Aug. 17, 2021.
Application 16/723,169 is a continuation of application No. 16/053,222, filed on Aug. 2, 2018, granted, now 10,520,682, issued on Dec. 31, 2019.
Application 16/053,222 is a continuation of application No. 15/452,040, filed on Mar. 7, 2017, granted, now 10,042,127, issued on Aug. 7, 2018.
Application 15/452,040 is a continuation of application No. 14/666,065, filed on Mar. 23, 2015, granted, now 9,625,657, issued on Apr. 18, 2017.
Application 14/666,065 is a continuation of application No. 13/607,133, filed on Sep. 7, 2012, granted, now 8,985,864, issued on Mar. 24, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/531,836, filed on Sep. 7, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2023/0314725 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G02B 6/38 (2006.01); B08B 1/14 (2024.01)
CPC G02B 6/3866 (2013.01) [B08B 1/143 (2024.01); G02B 6/3809 (2013.01); G02B 6/3825 (2013.01); G02B 6/3862 (2013.01); G02B 6/3869 (2013.01); G02B 6/3881 (2013.01); G02B 6/3888 (2021.05); G02B 6/3821 (2013.01); G02B 6/3822 (2013.01); G02B 6/3831 (2013.01); G02B 6/38875 (2021.05)] 2 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fiber optic alignment device for connecting a first optical fiber to a second optical fiber, the fiber optic alignment device comprising:
a first alignment block;
a second alignment block;
a first gel block;
a second gel block;
a fiber passage extending from a first end to a second end, the fiber passage adapted to receive the first optical fiber through the first end of the fiber passage and adapted to receive the second optical fiber through the second end of the fiber passage, the fiber passage including:
an intermediate portion positioned between the first and the second ends of the fiber passage, the intermediate portion adapted to align the first and the second optical fibers between the first and the second alignment blocks;
a first portion positioned between the first end of the fiber passage and the intermediate portion of the fiber passage, the first portion of the fiber passage extending between the first alignment block and the first gel block; and
a second portion positioned between the second end of the fiber passage and the intermediate portion of the fiber passage, the second portion of the fiber passage extending between the second alignment block and the second gel block.