Patent · US Expired

Fiber optic spools and methods of making the same

US6643445B2 · kind B2 · utility

15Cited by
5References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 1, 2001
Grant dateNov 4, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 1, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65H2701/514
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fiber optic spool which includes a spool including a barrel having opposed ends, a first flange positioned on one end of the barrel, and a second flange positioned on the other end of the barrel; and an elastic foam tube substantially surrounding the barrel under conditions whereby the foam tube is stressed radially while in its resting state on the barrel such that the foam tube resists lifting away from the barrel during rotation of the spool at speeds effective to wind or unwind at least about 25 m of optical fiber per second. Related aspects of the present invention include fiber optic spools including multi-laminar cushioning devices, such multi-laminar cushioning devices, and methods of making fiber optic spools of the present invention.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.