SPLICE PROTECTION SLEEVE FOR A PLURALITY OF OPTICAL FIBERS AND METHOD OF INSTALLATION

摘要

A sleeve and method are provided for protecting a splice of an optical fiber. The sleeve includes a support member and a plurality of optical fibers with the splice and being adjacent the support member. A heat deformable inner tube encompasses each of the plurality of optical fibers at the splice and a heat deformable outer tube encompasses at least partially the support member, the plurality of optical fibers at the splice, and each of the inner tubes. The method includes the acts of sliding the sleeve over a first free end of a plurality of optical fibers such that one of the inner tubes encompasses each of the fibers and then splicing the first free end of the plurality of optical fibers to a corresponding second free end of the plurality of optical fibers. Subsequently, the sleeve is slide over the splice of the first and second free ends and heat is applied to the sleeve to further strengthen the splice upon cooling.