GB2445960A

GB2445960A - Elastomeric spliced optical fibre guide

Info

Publication number: GB2445960A
Application number: GB0701607A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter David Jenkins
Original assignee: Miniflex Ltd
Current assignee: Miniflex Ltd
Priority date: 2007-01-26
Filing date: 2007-01-26
Publication date: 2008-07-30
Also published as: GB0701607D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of securing spliced optical fibres, particularly glass optical fibres, for example for use in a telecommunications environment. An optical fibre guide 1 for holding at least one spliced optical fibre, has opposite first and second sides having a length and width greater than a separation between said sides. The guide comprises on the first side 2 at least one optical fibre guide path 16 for receiving a spliced optical fibre 52. The path includes a linearly oriented splice-receiving portion 28 for receiving a spliced portion of the spliced optical fibre (52), and securing means 32 (best seen in figure 4) for securing the spliced optical fibre to the guide path. The optical fibre guide 1 is formed from an elastomeric material such that the guide may be resiliently deformed 80 transverse to the length and/or width of the guide while maintaining the linear orientation of the splice receiving portion 28.

Description

-1-2445960 Spliced Optical Fibres

BACKGROUND

a. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of securing spliced optical fibres, particularly glass optical fibres, for example for use in a telecommunications environment.

b. Related Art S. It is often necessary to splice optical fibres to make a new connection between two locations. In a telecommunications environment, the locations may on the one :* 15 hand be a telephone exchange or other telecommunications switching apparatus of a telecommunications service provider and, on the other hand, a new or upgraded subscriber for the telecommunications services.

S IS..

I

*.S...

* It is normally the case that a cabled bundle of many optical fibres is run from the service provider to a convenient location for onward connection to further locations. The fibre optic bundle may terminate in a cabinet, a connection box, a sealed plastic enclosure or other form of housing for optical fibre splicing, from which splicing connections may be made, typically via single or paired optical fibres to one or more other locations, usually in the local vicinity of the splicing housing.

Compared with the connection of copper wires in a telecommunications environment, the connection of optical fibre presents a number of difficulties and inconveniences. First, it is necessary when handling and routing optical fibres to observe a minimum bend radius, to avoid damaging the fibre or causing excess losses. A common minimum recommended bend radius for single mode or multimode glass fibre is 30 mm. Of course, copper wire has no such requirement and so because of this, a housing for optical fibre connections tends to be much bulkier than a housing for an equivalent number of copper wire connections.

A second problem results from fact that it is usually necessary to splice an optical fibre cable with a surplus length of optical fibre on either side of the splice. This is because it is not normally possible to guarantee that a splice will have been correctly made. If the optical losses at the splice exceed a defined limit, then it will be necessary to break the connection and form a new splice, after cutting back the optical fibre either side of the old splice. It may also be necessary to change a connection, in which case length is lost from re-spliced optical fibres. As a consequence, unused or surplus lengths of optical fibre will have to be stored with the splices while maintaining minimum bend radii for both unused, or dark" fibres and for used or live" or "active" fibres.

A third limitation is that the optical splices tend to be quite bulky compared with the strands of fibre leading to the splice. For example, a common type of splice is a fusion splice where the glass fibre has been melted together in an arc discharge.

* After fusing of the glass, the splice is stabilised by a stainless steel splint running * alongside the splice, and a surrounding layer of adhesive within a heat shrink outer tubing. Taken together, the splice assembly is far bulkier than an equivalent copper wire connection.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a more convenient apparatus and method for joining optical fibres.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided an optical fibre guide for holding at least one spliced optical fibre, the guide having opposite first and second sides, said sides having a length and width greater than a separation between said sides, and the guide comprising: on the first side at least one optical fibre guide path for receiving therealong a spliced optical fibre, said path including a linearly oriented splice-receiving portion for receiving a spliced portion of said spliced optical fibre; -and securing means for securing said spliced optical fibre to the guide path; wherein the optical fibre guide is formed from an elastomeric material such that the guide may be resiliently deformed transverse to the length and/or width of the guide while maintaining the linear orientation of the splice receiving portion.

The guide in use will comprise at least one spliced optical fibre secured in a corresponding optical fibre path. The optical splice is then received in the linearly oriented splice-receiving portion. The guide can then be deformed transverse to the length and/or width of the guide while limiting the minimum bend radius in :. order to limit optical losses from the consequent bending of the spliced optical fibre. The optical fibre path may optionally include at least one curved portion, the *S.. . . . . . curved portion being radiused to limit optical losses in the optical fibre along said : * . 15 curved portion. *S. *

Also according to the invention, there is provided a holder for securing spliced optical fibres, the holder including a housing and an optical fibre guide for holding * at least one spliced optical fibre, the optical fibre guide being according to the invention, wherein: -the housing includes means for securing the optical fibre guide within the housing and for permitting the optical fibre guide to be removed from the housing; and -the elastomenc material permits the guide when secured within the housing to resiliently assume a curved shape in order to fit within the housing, while maintaining the linear orientation of the splice receiving portion.

One benefit provided by the elastomeric material is such material permits the optical fibre guide after removal from the housing to resiliently assume a planar shape. This helps to facilitate location or removal of a spliced optical fibre along an optical fibre guide path, while maintaining the linear orientation of the splice receiving portion.

The invention additionally provides a method of securing a spliced optical fibre in an elastomeric material optical fibre guide said guide having on the first side at least one optical fibre guide path for receiving therealong a spliced optical fibre, said path including a linearly oriented splice-receiving portion for receiving a spliced portion of said spliced optical fibre, the method comprising the steps of: -arranging the optical fibre guide so that the guide assumes a generally planar orientation, the guide having in said orientation a length and width greater than a thickness of said guide; -arranging a spliced optical fibre along said path with an optical splice adjacent said splice-receiving portion; :. -receiving the optical splice within said splice-receiving portion; :..::: -securing the spliced optical fibre to said path; -arranging the optical fibre guide so that the guide assumes a generally 15 curved orientation in order to reduce the extent of the guide relative to the length and/or width of the guide when in the planar orientation while at the same time * maintaining the linear orientation of the splice receiving portion and limiting bending of the spliced optical fibre to limit optical losses from said secured optical SSS...

* fibre.

The invention further provides a method of securing spliced optical fibres within a holder, the holder including a housing and an elastomeric material optical fibre guide for holding at least one spliced optical fibre, the method comprising the steps of: -securing a spliced optical fibre in an elastomeric material optical fibre guide according to the aforementioned method such that the curved shape will fit inside the housing; -fitting the curved optical fibre guide within the housing, while maintaining the linear orientation of the splice receiving portion and limiting bending of the spliced optical fibre to limit optical losses from said secured optical fibre.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the optical fibre guide may take the form of a plate or planar sheet in an undeformed state. This is convenient because the guide is then naturally flat which helps when securing or adjusting spliced optical fibres to the mat. It would, however, alternatively be possible for the guide to take the form of a cylinder or partial cylinder in an undeformed state.

The guide may comprises means to facilitate said deformation in a direction which maintains the linear orientation of the splice receiving portion relative to deformation in a direction which does not maintain said linear orientation of the splice receiving portion. As the optical guide path is provided in the first side, it is convenient if such these means is provided on the second side of the guide.

The means to facitate said deformation preferably comprises at least one groove in a side of the guide. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is a series of grooves in the second side of the guide. *. S.

* . . 15 * . At least one groove may be parallel with the linearly oriented splice-receiving portion. SI..

I.....

* * For example, if the optical fibre guide takes the form of a plate or planar sheet in an undeformed state, then after securing or otherwise re-arranging an optical fibre along the guide path, the optical fibre guide may be rolled along an axis parallel to the linearly oriented splice-receiving portion in order to reduce the maximum dimension or extent of the guide in a plane perpendicular to the roll axis, while still maintaining the linear orientation of the splice receiving portion.

Alternatively, if the guide takes the form of a cylinder or partial cylinder in an undeformed state, then during location and secunng of an optical fibre along the optical fibre guide path the optical fibre guide may be temporarily deformed to a planar orientation in order to facilitate securing or otherwise re-arranging an optical fibre along the guide path, after which the optical fibre guide is allowed to relax to a cylindrical form.

The grooves when compressed by a concave bend in the side of the optical fibre guide may then advantageously serve to help limit bending of the optical fibre guide beyond an allowable minimum bend radius.

The elastomeric material may be a moulded material, with at least some of the securing means being integrally moulded with the optical fibre guide path.

The optical fibre guide path may comprises within the first side of the optical fibre guide a first elongate channel having an opening along its length for receiving and holding a first optical fibre, and a second elongate channel having an opening along its length for receMng and holding a second optical fibre. The linearly oriented splice-receiving portion is then provided between the first and second channels. s.

r* 15 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the linearly oriented splice-receiving portion includes within the first side of the optical fibre guide a chamber. The chamber has opposite ends with the first and second channels extending into S...

* these ends for holding a splice between optical fibres held in the channels.

* S. S** * * The securing means may include at least one retention feature for retaining the spliced optical fibre within the first channel and/or the second channel.

The openings to the first channel and/or the second channel may include at least one resilient restriction to retain an optical fibre after press-fitting of the optical fibre into the channel(s) past the restriction.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the or each restriction is an overhang provided along the length of the channel(s). The opening is then in the form of a narrow slot running the length of the first or second channels, the slot having a width less than that of an optical fibre to be secured within the channel(s) The optical fibre guide path may include a curved portion on one or both sides of said splice-receiving portion. In this case, the overhang along said curved portion extends from an outer radius of said curved portion. This helps to retain the optical fibre within the channel as a fibre bent within the channel wiH naturally abut against an outer radius wall within the curved portion of the channel, The openings to the first channel and/or the second channel may include a funnel shape to help locate an optical fibre in said channel. The funnel shape will narrow into the main body portion of the optical fibre guide from a mouth to the opening towards a narrowest portion or neck of the opening. With convex flexing of the first side, the neck of the opening can be arranged to flex open less than the mouth to the opening, thereby helping to retain the optical fibre within the first or second channels.

SSS

The optical fibre guide path may include on one or both sides of the splice-receiving portion a curved portion which extends away from an axis defined by the 5. linearly oriented splice-receiving portion. This provides the ability to route optical fibres transversely and specifically perpendicularly to the linear extent of the splice : receiving portion of the optical fibre path.

* S.. *e

S

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of an elongate generally planar optical fibre guide for holding at least one spliced optical fibre, according to a first preferred aspect of the invention having on one side near one end a double mandrel adjacent which are a plurality of optical fibre paths for securely holding spliced optical fibres; Figure 2 is a cross-section view along lines Il- Il of the optical fibre guide of Figure 1, showing the form of the double mandrel and common transverse portions of the optical fibre paths; Figure 3 is a cross-section view along lines Ill-Ill of the optical fibre guide of Figure 1, showing the form of the double mandrel and individual longitudinal portions of the optical fibre paths; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion IV of Figure 3, showing the asymmetric cross-section form of the individual longitudinal portions of the optical fibre paths; Figures 5A and SB show perspective views from opposite sides of the optical fibre guide of Figure 1, after this has been curled into a cylindrical : *.. shape; S.. *.S.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a partially disassembled holder for securing spliced optical fibres according to a second preferred aspect of the invention, the holder including a housing and an optical fibre guide *S..

according to the first preferred aspect of the invention; and * S Figure 7 shows the holder of Figure 6, when fully assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows an elongate generally planer optical fibre guide I for holding a spliced optical fibre. The guide I is thin relative to its length and width and takes the form of a plate or tray, having a generally planar shape and having a first side 2 and an opposite second side 4, both of which are elongate and rectangular in profile.

The first side 2 has a notch 6 at one end 8 for receiving optical fibre cables, as will be described in more detail below with reference to Figure 6. The guide I has a double mandrel 10 having an outer mandrel 12 and an inner mandrel 14 for storing excess optical fibre.

The guide I has in this example a total of 24 optical guide paths 16 in the form of channels formed substantially within the body of the guide 1. Reference is now made to Figures 2, 3 and 4 which show that each optical guide path 16 includes a pair of variable length sections formed by a pair of common side channels 18 each of which runs the length of the guide I from the vicinity of the mandrel 10 towards an opposite end 20 of the guide 1. For each of the 24 optical guide paths, the common channels 18 each connect to one of a pair individual channels. Staring from the common channel portion 18, each individual channel consists first of an elongate curved channel portion 22, and then a straight channel portion 24 which enters opposite an end 26 of a splice receiving portion in the form of an elongate straight chamber 28 for receiving a spliced portion of a spliced optical fibre. S...

.". 15 Each of the common channel portions 18 and individual channel portions 22, 24 * I and 26 of the optical fibre paths 16 is in the form of a nearly enclosed conduit within the body of the optical fibre guide 1. Each channel 18, 22, 24, 26 has a 1.1.

: narrow opening 30 in the form of an asymmetric overhang 32 that extends nearly fully over each channel, and which serves in use as a retention feature for securing an optical fibre within the corresponding channel. Therefore the curved channels converge to share a common guide path portion with common securing means in the form of the overhang 32 for securing a plurality of spliced optical fibres to the common guide path portion.

All of the chambers 28 are parallel and define a longitudinal direction which extends perpendicularly to a long axis of each rectangular side 2, 4 of the optical fibre guide 1. The common side channels 18 each extend parallel with long edges 9, 21 of the rectangular sides 2, 4 and transversely to the direction of the chambers 28. The curved channel portions 22 have a bend radius of about 20 mm so as to limit optical losses from an optical fibre carried around the curved channels 22.

The optical fibre guide I is formed from an injection moulded electrometric material so that the guide can be resiliently deformed. In this example, the guide I has a main body portion having the form of a planar sheet in its neutral, unbent configuration. The optical fibre guide 1 is resiliently flexible so that the guide can be bent or curved away from the plane orientation shown in Figure 1. In this example the natural orientation of the guide is planar as shown in Figure 1. The use of an elastomeric material permits the guide I to be bent or curved to fit inside or against objects having a more compact form than the planar form of the guide shown in Figure 1. The use of an elastomeric material also permits the moulding of securing means integral with the body of the guide for securing optical fibres held within each channel, which in this example are the channel overhangs 32. The channels are formed during injection moulding by corresponding features in a :..:: mould cavity. The elastomeric nature of the optical fibre guide I allows features such as the overhangs 32 to be resiliently stretched and extracted from the mould :1,.:. 15 used to form essentially internal features within the body of the guide, such as the channels 22, 24, 26. *Se.

Reference is now made to Figures 5A and 5B, which show how the optical fibre guide I can be resiliently deformed into a cylindrical shape in order to minimise the extent of the guide. In order to facilitate bending of the guide 1, and also to provide a degree of bend limitation, a series of parallel V-grooves 34 is formed on the second side 4, extending in a direction parallel to the chambers 28. Each V-groove is positioned on the second side 4 mid-way between a pair of chambers 28 on the first side 2. It is important to avoid bending optical fibre splices held within the chambers 28. The V-grooves 34 provide a preferential plane of weakness that extends transversely to the longitudinal axis defined by the chambers 28. Furthermore, the shape of the V-grooves helps to define and also to limit a minimum bend radius, by providing a sharply increased bend resistance as the walls of the V-groove come together in order to avoid bending optical fibres held on the first side 2 of the guide 1 beyond a minimum bend radius.

The V-grooves 34 provide a further benefit by providing a neutral plane within the -11 -body of the optical fibre guide which is essentially neither compressed nor stretched during bending of the guide about an axis parallel to the V-grooves, in order to limit or avoid corresponding compression or stretching of optical fibres held within the channels 18, 22, 24. The mechanical properties of the first and second sides of the guide are therefore balanced as regards compression or stretching of opposite sides during the deformation of the guide such that an optical fibre secured in the channels is neither compressed nor stretched during the deformation of the guide.

As shown in Figures 1 and 5A, the guide may include a removable fibre hold-down feature in the vicinity of the mandrel 10. In this example, the hold-down feature is one or more straps 44. Each strap 44 is moulded in the same elastomeric material as the optical fibre guide 1, and has at its ends 45 a pair of buttons 46 which II.

locate in corresponding recesses 47 at inner and outer walls 48, 49 of the mandrel 10. The recesses 47 are integral with the elastomeric body of the guide 1. The strap 44 crosses an intermittent intermediate wall 51 of the mandrel 10 which has a notch 53 for seating the strap aligned between opposite recesses 47. The strap 44 has along its length a series of notches 55 alternately on one side of the strap or the other in order to increase the linear flexibility of the strap 44.

Figure 6 shows how the optical fibre guide I may be incorporated in a holder 50 in order to secure and protect optical fibres 52 held and secured to the optical fibre guide 1.

The holder 50 includes a generally cylindrical hollow housing cap 54 having an open end 56 which can be closed and sealed by means of a generally disk-shaped end cap 58. The cylindrical housing cap 54 and end cap 56 together form a protective housing 54, 56 for the optical fibre guide 1.

The end cap 58 allows passage therethrough of a number of protectively sheathed optical fibre cables 60 which extend into a generally cylindrical support 62 coaxially mounted on the end cap 58. The support 62 is formed in two halves 63, 64 which are hinged so that the halves 63, 64 can be separated and opened, as shown in dotted outline in Figure 6. This permits easy access to the interior of the cylindrical support 62.

The optical fibre guide I has along the mandrel end 8 a pair of cylindrical sleeves 66 either side of the notch 6, and which receive a rod (not shown) connected to one half 64 of the support 62. This forms a hinge 68 which makes a pivoting connection between the optical fibre guide 1 and the support 62.

One half 64 of the support 62 has a routing means in the form of an opening 65 aligned with the notch 6 in the guide I so that the unsheathed optical fibre cables may be routed from within the support 62 through the opening 65 towards the : mandrel 10 of the optical fibre guide 1. Individual optical fibres 52 extend from the * *.# * S ., cables 70. Each fibre 52 has spare length such that pairs of fibres can be fusion :..15 spliced together. The splicing process is well-known to those skilled in the art and * so will not be further described. After splicing of a pair of the fibres 52, the spliced portion can be press-fitted into the recess-like chamber 28 along with the adjacent 55.1 : lengths of optical fibre which are press-fitted into the channels 18, 22, 24 either side of the chamber 28. Preferably, the size and elasticity of the chambers affords *SSSSS * 20 a secure friction fit for the splices. Spare lengths of spliced optical fibre are looped in the outer mandrel 12, which has an opposite pair of gaps 13 by which optical fibre passes into and out of the outer mandrel 12. Free ends of unspliced "dark optical fibre are looped inside the inner mandrel 14. The flexible guide I is then wrapped 80 around the support 62, with the first side 2 being convex and outermost, after which the cylindrically shaped guide 1 is inserted axially into the housing cap 54 and a seal made at the end cap 58. During this process, the guide I is resiliently deformed transverse to the length of the guide while maintaining the linear orientation of the splice receiving portions 28.

Optionally, the support may include means such as clips 72 for securing the optical fibre guide to the support when curved to fit within the housing.

The closed housing 54 58 is shown in Figure 7. The housing 54, 58 is generally cylindrical in shape, having a cylindrical axis 75. The linear orientation of the splice receiving portions 28 when the optical fibre guide 1 is secured within the housing 54, 58 is parallel with the cylindrical axis 75.

In this example, the external length 74 of the housing 54, 58 is 260 mm, the width 76 is 70 mm and the internal diameter 78 is 60 mm. This is a very compact arrangement for a holder 50 that secures up to 24 optical splices. Such an internal diameter is sufficient so that the curved shape of the optical fibre guide I required to fit within the housing 54, 58 is radiused to limit optical losses in the spliced optical fibres 52 secured by the optical fibre guide.

:. The housing may include external features such as a clamp 82 for fitting to an external object such as a rack or other support. *S..

p"' The arrangement described above can, of course, provide for a greater number of optical splices by increasing the number of optical paths 16 and length of the optical fibre guide 1. S...

S.....

The optical fibre guide and holder described above there fore provide a convenient solution to the problem of securing optical fibre splices in a compact arrangement.

Claims

1. An optical fibre guide for holding at least one spliced optical fibre, the guide having opposite first and second sides, said sides having a length and width greater than a separation between said sides, and the guide comprising: -on the first side at least one optical fibre guide path for receiving therealong a spliced optical fibre, said path including a linearly oriented splice-receiving portion for receiving a spliced portion of said spliced optical fibre; -and securing means for securing said spliced optical fibre to the guide path; wherein the optical fibre guide is formed from an elastomeric material such that the guide may be resiliently deformed transverse to the length and/or width of the guide while maintaining the linear orientation of the splice receiving portion. S. * *

2. An optical fibre guide as claimed in Claim 1, in which the guide takes the *...

form of a plate or planar sheet in an undeformed state. S. * * S * .

3. An optical fibre guide as claimed in Claim 1, in which the guide takes the form of a cylinder or partial cylinder in an undeformed state. S...

S

S.....

* 0

4. An optical fibre guide as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the guide comprises means to facilitate said deformation i a direction which maintains the linear orientation of the splice receiving portion relative to deformation in a direction which does not maintain said linear orientation of the splice receiving portion.

5. An optical fibre guide as claimed in Claim 4, in which said means to facilitate said deformation is provided on the second side of the guide.

6. An optical guide as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which said means to facilitate said deformation comprises at least one groove in a side of the guide.

7. An optical guide as claimed in Claim 6, in which there is a series of grooves in the second side of the guide.

8. An optical guide as claimed in Claini 6 or Claim 7, in which said groove(s) when compressed by a concave bend in the side of the optical fibre guide having the groove(s) serve(s) to help limit bending of the optical fibre guide beyond an allowable minimum bend radius.

9. An optical guide as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, in which at least one groove is parallel with said linearly oriented splice-receiving portion.

10. An optical fibre guide as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the elastomeric material is a moulded material, at least some of the securing means :*. being integrally moulded with the optical fibre guide path. SI.. * .

11. An optical fibre guide as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the optical fibre guide path comprises within the first side of the optical fibre guide: -a first elongate channel having an opening along its length for receiving and *: holding a first optical fibre; and -a second elongate channel having an opening along its length for receiving * 20 and holding a second optical fibre; wherein said linearly oriented splice-receiving portion is provided between said first and second channels.

12. An optical fibre guide as claimed in Claim 11, in which the mechanical properties of the first and second sides of the guide are balanced as regards compression or stretching of opposite sides during said deformation of the guide such that an optical fibre secured in said channels is neither compressed nor stretched during said deformation of the guide.

13. An optical fibre guide as claimed in Claim 12, when appendant from Claim 6, in which said at least one groove serves also to help balance said compression or stretching during said deformation of the guide

14. An optical fibre guide as claimed in Claim 13, in which said at least one groove is/are provided on a second side of the optical fibre guide.

15. An optical fibre guide as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 14, in which said linearly oriented splice-receiving portion includes within the first side of the optical fibre guide a chamber, said chamber having opposite ends and said first and second channels extending into said ends of said chamber, for holding a splice between optical fibres held in said channels.

16. An optical fibre guide as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 15, in which the securing means includes at least one retention feature for retaining said spliced :* optical fibre within the first channel and/or the second channel. * .

17. An optical fibre guide as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 16, in which the :. openings to the first channel and/or the second channel include(s) at least one * resilient restriction to retain an optical fibre after press-fitting past said restriction into said channel(s). a...

**....

* 0

18. An optical fibre guide as claimed in Claim 17, in which said at least one restriction is an overhang provided along the length of the channel(s).

19. An optical fibre guide as claimed in Claim 18, in which said optical fibre guide path includes a curved portion on one or both sides of said splice-receiving portion, said overhang along said curved portion extending from an outer radius of said curved portion.

20. An optical fibre guide as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 19, in which the openings to the first channel and/or the second channel include(s) a funnel shape to help locate an optical fibre in said channel(s).

21. An optical fibre guide as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the optical fibre guide path includes on one or both sides of the splice-receiving portion a curved portion which extends away from an axis defined by the linearly oriented splice-receiving portion.

22. An optical fibre guide as claimed in any preceding claim, in which there is a plurality of optical fibre guide paths, said guide paths having separate linearly oriented splice-receiving portions.

23. An optical fibre guide as claimed in Claim 22, in which on one or both sides of said splice-receiving portions the optical guide paths converge to share a common guide path portion with common securing means for securing a plurality of said spliced optical fibres to the common guide path portion. a. * .

:*:::

24. An optical fibre guide as claimed in Claim 23, in which said separate linearly S...

oriented splice-receiving portions are all parallel to each other.

25. An optical fibre guide as claimed in Claim 24, in which the or each common : guide path portion extends perpendicularly to said parallel splice-receiving S...

portions.

26. An optical fibre guide as claimed in any preceding claim, including a mandrel for looping excess lengths of excess lengths of optical fibre on one or both sides of an optical fibre splice secured to the guide path.

27. An optical fibre guide as claimed in Claim 26, in which the mandrel is provided on the first side of the optical fibre guide.

28. An optical fibre guide as claimed in Claim 26 or Claim 27, in which the mandrel is positioned laterally adjacent said splice-receiving portion(s).

29. An optical fibre guide as claimed in any of Claims 26 to 28, in which the mandrel has an inner mandrel for looping excess lengths of dark optical fibre and an outer portion for looping excess lengths of active optical fibre.

30. An optical fibre guide as claimed in any of Claims 26 to 29, in which the guide comprises retention means for retaining looped optical fibre around the mandrel.

31. An optical fibre guide as claimed in Claim 30, in which said retention means includes an integral elastomeric securing feature for removably securing at least one cover or strap over the mandrel.

32. An optical fibre guide as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising at least one spliced optical fibre secured in a corresponding optical fibre path with the :. optical splice being received in said linearly oriented splice-receiving portion, :.::: wherein the optical fibre path includes at least one curved portion said curved es..

portion being radiused to limit optical losses in the optical fibre along said curved S..

33. A holder for securing spliced optical fibres, the holder including a housing *1*I and an optical fibre guide for holding at least one spliced optical fibre, the optical *.S...

* *20 fibre guide being as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein: -the housing includes means for securing the optical fibre guide within the housing and for permitting the optical fibre guide to be removed from the housing; and -the elastomeric material permits the guide when secured within the housing to resiliently assume a curved shape in order to fit within the housing, while maintaining the linear orientation of the splice receiving portion.

34. A holder as claimed in Claim 33, in which the elastomeric material permits the optical fibre guide after removal from the housing to resiliently assume a planar shape in order to facilitate location or removal of a spliced optical fibre along an optical fibre guide path, while maintaining the linear orientation of the splice receiving portion.

35. A holder as claimed in Claim 33 or Claim 34, in which the housing is generally cylindrical in shape, having a cylindrical axis, the linear orientation of the splice receiving portion when the optical fibre guide is secured within the housing being parallel with said cylindrical axis.

36. A holder as claimed in Claim 35, in which the optical fibre guide assumes a cylindrical shape in order to fit within the housing.

37. A holder as claimed in any of Claims 33 to 36, in which the first side of the optical fibre guide is on a convex side of the guide when the optical fibre guide is secured within the housing. S. * S * S..

*.*.a

38. A holder as claimed in any of Claims 33 to 37, in which the holder S...

comprises a support to which the optical fibre guide is affixed, said support :: providing means for routing at least one optical fibre cable to the optical fibre guide. S...

S *55*

39. A holder as claimed in any of Claims 33 to 37, in which the holder S.....

* 0 comprises a support to which the optical fibre guide is affixed, said support providing means for defining the curved shape of the optical fibre guide when secured within the housing.

40. A holder as claimed in Claim 38 or Claim 39, in which the support includes means for securing the optical fibre guide to the support when Curved to fit within the housing.

41. A holder as claimed in any of Claims 33 to 40, when appendant from Claim 32, in which the curved shape of the optical fibre guide required to fit within the housing is radiused to limit optical losses in said at least one spliced optical fibre secured by the optical fibre guide. -20 -

42. A method of securing a spliced optical fibre in an elastomeric material optical fibre guide said guide having on the first side at least one optical fibre guide path for receiving therealong a spliced optical fibre, said path including a linearly oriented splice-receiving portion for receiving a spliced portion of said spliced optical fibre, the method comprising the steps of: -arranging the optical fibre guide so that the guide assumes a generally planar orientation, the guide having in said orientation a length and width greater than a thickness of said guide; -arranging a spliced optical fibre along said path with an optical splice adjacent said splice-receiving portion; -receiving the optical splice within said splice-receiving portion; -securing the spliced optical fibre to said path; :. -arranging the optical fibre guide so that the guide assumes a generally curved orientation in order to reduce the extent of the guide relative to the length *I..

and/or width of the guide when in the planar orientation while at the same time maintaining the linear orientation of the splice receiving portion and limiting bending of the spliced optical fibre to limit optical losses from said secured optical fibre, S...

* *5*eS * 20

43. A method of securing spliced optical fibres within a holder, the holder including a housing and an elastomenc material optical fibre guide for holding at least one spliced optical fibre, the method comprising the steps of: -securing a spliced optical fibre in an elastomeric material optical fibre guide according to the method of Claim 42 such that the curved shape will fit inside the housing; -fitting the curved optical fibre guide within the housing, while maintaining the linear orientation of the splice receiving portion and limiting bending of the spliced optical fibre to limit optical losses from said secured optical fibre.

44. An optical fibre guide for holding a spliced optical fibre, the guide being substantially as herein described, with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings. -21 -

45. A method of securing a spliced optical fibre in an elastomeric material optical fibre guide for holding at least one spliced optical fibre, substantially as herein described, with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

46. A method of securing spliced optical fibres within a holder, the holder including a housing and an elastomeric material optical fibre guide for holding at least one spliced optical fibre, substantially as herein described, with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings. * * * .** *.*. * S S... S. S. * * .

S S..

S S...

S

S..... * .