Fiber optic connector holder and method
First Claim
1. a fiber optic connector holder for holding a fiber optic connector with a dust cap mounted about a ferrule holding a polished end face of an optical fiber, the connector holder comprising:
- a main housing defining a cavity with an open end sized to receive the fiber optic connector and the dust cap, a top, a bottom and a pair of opposing sides;
an inner housing disposed within the main housing and including a dust cap opening sized to receive the dust cap when the fiber optic connector is received in the open end of the main housing;
the inner housing including at least one retaining clip which releasably latches onto the fiber optic connector and releasably holds the fiber optic connector within the open end of the main housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a fiber optic connector holder sized to fit within an opening for mounting a fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic connector holder is configured to permit a fiber optic connector with a dust cap positioned about a ferrule and a polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule to be inserted within and releasably held by the connector holder. The present invention further relates to a system for holding fiber optic connectors including a fiber optic connector holder mounted within an opening in a bulkhead for mounting a fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic connector holder is configured to receive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap mounted about a ferrule and polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule. The present invention also relates to a method of holding an optical fiber connector to a bulkhead, when the fiber optic connector includes a dust cap mounted about a ferrule and a polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. a fiber optic connector holder for holding a fiber optic connector with a dust cap mounted about a ferrule holding a polished end face of an optical fiber, the connector holder comprising:
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a main housing defining a cavity with an open end sized to receive the fiber optic connector and the dust cap, a top, a bottom and a pair of opposing sides;
an inner housing disposed within the main housing and including a dust cap opening sized to receive the dust cap when the fiber optic connector is received in the open end of the main housing;
the inner housing including at least one retaining clip which releasably latches onto the fiber optic connector and releasably holds the fiber optic connector within the open end of the main housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for holding fiber optic connectors comprising:
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a bulkhead including a plurality of adapter openings sized to receive adapters configured to optically connect optical fiber cables within fiber optic connectors;
at least one adapter mounted within one of the adapter openings in the bulkhead;
at least one fiber optic connector holder mounted within one of the adapter openings in the bulkhead, the fiber optic connector holder including a housing with a central cavity having an open end sized to receive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap positioned about a ferrule holding a polished end face of an optical fiber, and retaining clips within the cavity to releasably hold the fiber optic connector and the dust cap within the cavity; and
at least one fiber optic connector within the cavity of the fiber optic connector holder, the fiber optic connector having a dust cap positioned about the ferrule;
wherein the fiber optic connector holder may be removed from the adapter opening and an adapter mounted within the same adapter opening. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method of holding a fiber optic connector comprising:
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providing a bulkhead with a plurality of adapter openings and a fiber optic connector holder mounted within one of the adapter openings, the fiber optic connector including a housing with a central cavity having an open end sized to receive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap and retaining clips within the cavity to releasably hold the fiber optic connector and the dust cap within the cavity;
positioning a fiber optic cable terminated with a fiber optic connector including a ferrule and polished end face, and a dust cap releasably mounted about the polished end face and the ferrule so that the fiber optic connector is proximate the bulkhead; and
inserting the fiber optic connector with the dust cap about the ferrule within the fiber optic connector holder so that the fiber optic connector engages the retaining clips within the cavity of the holder.
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13. A fiber optic connector holder for holding a fiber optic connector with a dust cap mounted about a ferrule holding a polished end face of an optical fiber, the connector holder comprising:
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a main housing defining a cavity with an open end sized to receive the fiber optic connector and the dust cap;
an inner housing disposed within the main housing and including a dust cap opening sized to receive the dust cap when the fiber optic connector is received in the open end of the main housing;
the inner housing including at least one retaining arrangement which releasably holds the fiber optic connector within the open end of the main housing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for holding fiber optic connectors comprising:
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a bulkhead including a plurality of openings;
a plurality of fiber optic connector holders each mounted within one of the openings in the bulkhead, the fiber optic connector holder including a housing with a central cavity having an open end sized to receive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap positioned about a ferrule holding a polished end face of an optical fiber, and a retaining arrangement within the cavity to releasably hold the fiber optic connector and the dust cap within the cavity; and
at least one fiber optic connector within the cavity of the fiber optic connector holder, the fiber optic connector having a dust cap positioned about the ferrule;
wherein the fiber optic connector holder may be removed from the adapter opening and an adapter mounted within the same adapter opening. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method of holding a fiber optic connector comprising:
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providing a bulkhead with a plurality of fiber optic connector holders, the fiber optic connectors each including a housing with a central cavity having an open end sized to receive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap and a retaining arrangement within the cavity to releasably hold the fiber optic connector and the dust cap within the cavity;
positioning a fiber optic cable terminated with a fiber optic connector including a ferrule and polished end face, and a dust cap releasably mounted about the polished end face and the ferrule so that the fiber optic connector is proximate the bulkhead; and
inserting the fiber optic connector with the dust cap about the ferrule within the fiber optic connector holder so that the fiber optic connector engages the retaining arrangement within the cavity of the holder. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A fiber optic connector holder and connector assembly comprising:
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a connector holder including a main housing defining a cavity with an open end sized to receive the fiber optic connector and the dust cap;
the connector holder further including an inner housing disposed within the main housing and including a dust cap opening sized to receive the dust cap when the fiber optic connector is received in the open end of the main housing;
the inner housing including at least one retaining arrangement which releasably holds the fiber optic connector within the open end of the main housing a fiber optic connector positioned within the main housing with a ferrule having a polished end and a dust cap mounted about the ferrule positioned within the cavity.
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Specification