Robust fiber connector

• US 20040052474A1
• Filed: 09/13/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Incorporated (Furukawa Electric Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fitel USA Corporation
• Inventors: Lu, Yu, Subh, Naif T., Lampert, Norman R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,789,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/78
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on

Abstract

A pull-proof optical fiber connector for use with robust optical fiber has a housing and a ferrule bearing barrel member therein having a first outside diameter over a front portion thereof and a second, lesser outside diameter rearward portion, and a bore extending therethrough forming an optical fiber passage.

The barrel member and, hence, the ferrule are rearwardly movable under axially pulling stress, and a stop member prevents further rearward movement prior to any disengagement of the ferrule with an associated ferrule or other apparatus. In one embodiment of the invention, the stop member is a fiber retention member having a front face and a bore extending therethrough of lesser diameter than the outside diameter of the second portion, thereby halting rearward movement when the end of the second portion butts against the front face of the cable retention member.

In another embodiment of the invention the stop member is the rear edge of a substantially rectangular opening in the housing, which functions to block a U-shaped retainer member which embraces the second portion of the barrel after allowable rearward movement under rearward axial stress.

Claims

1. A connector for use with robust optical fiber, said connector comprising:

a housing member having a forward portion and a rear portion;

a barrel member having a ferrule mounted therein for connection to another component contained in said forward portion, said barrel member having a flange having a first outside diameter and a tubular portion extending rearwardly therefrom having a second outside diameter less than said first outside diameter;

a bore extending through said barrel member;

a stop member for limiting rearward movement of said barrel member within said housing to a distance less than that causing disconnection of said ferrule.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said distance is within the range of 0.020 inches to 0.035 inches.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stop member is a cable retention member within said housing having a bore therein through which the cable passes, said retention member having a front end and said bore having a restricted inside diameter portion adjacent said front end, said inside diameter being less than said second outside diameter of said tubular portion of said barrel.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 1 and further having a retainer member embracing said tubular portion of said barrel member and free to move longitudinally with respect thereto.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 4 wherein said housing has an opening in a side wall thereof through which said retainer member is insertable into said housing.

6. A connector as claimed in claim 5 wherein said retainer member has a U-shape.

7. A connector as claimed in claim 6 wherein the bend in the U-shaped retainer member is situated within when said retainer member is in its barrel embracing position.

8. A connector as claimed in claim 7 wherein said opening has a rearward edge and a front edge, said stop member being said rearward edge.

9. A connector as claimed in claim 1 and further including a resilient latching arm extending from side housing at an angle thereto, said latching arm having at least one latch extending from a side thereof, said latch having a front surface and top and bottom surfaces;

said front surface being in the form of a narrow shoulder engaging strip adjacent the bottom surface of said latch and having a cutback portion extending from said strip to said top surface.

10. A connector as claimed in claim 9 wherein said cutback portion is at an angle of approximately thirty degrees.

11. A connector as claimed in claim 1 and further including an optical fiber to which said connector is attached.

12. A connector as claimed in claim 11 wherein said fiber is a jumper cable.

13. A connector as claimed in claim 11 wherein said fiber is a robust fiber having an outer diameter of approximately 200 microns or more.

14. For use with an optical fiber connector having a housing and adapted to be latched to another connection component having a latching surface;

a resilient latching arm extending from the housing;

at least one latch extending from one side of said latching arm, said latch having a front surface and top and bottom surfaces;

said front surfaces having a latching surface engaging strip adjacent said bottom surfaces and a cut-back portion extending from said strip to said top surface.