Fiber optic mechanical splice having grooves for dissipating index matching material impurities

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The fiber optic mechanical splice according to the invention contains means for dissipation of air bubbles in index matching materials.
Two optical fibers lie end to end in a V-groove in an elongate support member.
A lid covers the support member.
The junction point of the two optical fibers lies between grooves transverse to the V-groove in which the optical fibers lie, which transverse grooves may be made in the surface of the support member or the lid (or one transverse groove each in the support member and lid).
The two optical fibers are spliced together at the junction point, and means such as a housing with slots therein serve to urge the lid and support member toward each other.
The transverse grooves are in communication with the V-groove in which the optical fibers lie.
An index matching material surrounds the junction point of the two optical fibers.