A retractable optical fiber assembly includes a housing, a spool rotatably disposed
within the housing and an optical waveguide reeled onto the spool. The optical
waveguide has a central length of unjacketed optical fiber and shorter end lengths
of jacketed optical fiber terminating in optical connectors. The optical waveguide
is reeled onto the spool such that the end lengths of jacketed optical fiber are
extracted off the spool and retracted onto the spool in the same direction. The
spool is biased in a first rotational direction relative to the housing by a torsion
spring that exerts a retracting force on the jacketed optical fiber. A mechanical
stop is also provided to prevent rotation of the spool in a second rotational direction
opposite the first rotational direction. In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly
is a test fiber box for use with optical test equipment to test an optical network.
