Hardened fiber optic adapter

• US 20080175542A1
• Filed: 01/24/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Reagan, Randy, Lu, Yu
• Granted Patent: US 7,591,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/62
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3816 for use under water, high pressure connectors provisionally see G02B6/4428
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3894 Screw-lock type

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic adapter for use with fiber optic connectors. The fiber optic adapter includes a housing having a first axial end portion defining a first adapter port and a second axial end portion defining a second adapter port. The fiber optic adapter further includes a first retaining mechanism that is operably associated with the first axial end portion for retaining a first fiber optic connector in the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter and a second retaining mechanism that is operably associated with the first axial end portion for retaining the first fiber optic connector in the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter.

Claims

1-5. -5. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. A fiber optic connection system comprising:

a fiber optic adapter having a first axial end portion defining a first adapter port and a second axial end portion defining a second adapter port;

a fiber optic connector having;

a connector housing having an end defining a plug portion sized for insertion into the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter;

a ferrule assembly mounted at least partially within the connector housing, the ferrule assembly including a ferrule located at the plug portion of the connector housing;

a sealing member mounted about an exterior of the connector housing;

the fiber optic connector and the fiber optic adapter including mating threads for retaining the fiber optic connector within the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter; and

the fiber optic connector and the fiber optic adapter including a snap-fit latch arrangement for retaining the fiber optic connector within the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter, the snap-fit latch arrangement including first and second retention surfaces that engage one another to retain the fiber optic connector within the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter, at least the first retention surface being angled relative to a central axis of the fiber optic connector, the first retention surface also being angled relative to a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the fiber optic connector so as to reduce a pull-out force required to remove the fiber optic connector from the first adapter port by overcoming a retention force of the snap-fit latch arrangement.

6. The fiber optic connection system of claim 10, wherein the first axial port defines an annular sealing surface having an inner diameter that is less than or equal to 15 mm.

7. The fiber optic connection system of claim 10, wherein the first axial port defines an annular sealing surface having an inner diameter that is less than or equal to 12.5 mm.

8. The fiber optic connection system of claim 10, wherein the first axial port defines an annular sealing surface having an inner diameter that is less than or equal to 10 mm.

16. The fiber optic connection system of claim 10, wherein the snap-fit latch arrangement includes a cantilever arm having a retention tab at which the first retention surface is located.

17. The fiber optic connection system of claim 16, wherein the cantilever arm with the retention tab is carried by the fiber optic connector.

18. The fiber optic connection system of claim 17, wherein a notch, which is adapted to receive the retention tab, is carried by the fiber optic adapter.

19. The fiber optic connection system of claim 10 further comprising a first plug receptacle, positioned within the first adapter port, the first plug receptacle including a pair of opposing surfaces that are angled so as to complement a tapered end portion of the fiber optic connector.

34. The fiber optic connection system of claim 10, wherein the fiber optic adapter includes a first housing piece defining the first adapter port and a second housing piece defining the second adapter port, and wherein the first housing piece and the second housing piece are interconnected by a latch mechanism.

35. The fiber optic connection system of claim 34, wherein the first housing piece includes a radial shoulder that separates the first housing piece into an enlarged diameter region and a reduced diameter region.

36. The fiber optic connection system of claim 35, wherein the second housing piece includes an enlarged diameter region and a reduced diameter region region, wherein the reduced diameter region of the first housing piece receives the reduced diameter region of the second housing piece, and wherein the first and second housing pieces are keyed to ensure proper rotational alignment between the first housing piece and the second housing piece.

37. The fiber optic connection system of claim 36, wherein the reduced diameter region of the first housing piece includes external threads.

38. The fiber optic connection system of claim 37, further comprising a mounting nut in threaded engagement with the external threads of the reduced diameter region of the first housing piece.

39. The fiber optic connection system of claim 34, wherein the latch mechanism includes a retention tab defined by the second housing piece.

40. The fiber optic connection system of claim 39, wherein the latch mechanism includes a cantilever arm, defined by the first housing piece, having a base end, which is integrally formed with the first housing piece, a free end, and an opening, which is adapted to receive the retention tab of the second housing piece.

41. The fiber optic connection system of claim 10, further comprising a connector retention clip mounted within the second adapter port of the fiber optic adapter, the connector retention clip including a pair of flexible latching arms and a cylindrical receptacle for receiving at least a portion of a split sleeve.

42. The fiber optic connection system of claim 41, wherein the connector retention clip is secured within the second adapter port by a snap-fit connection.

11-15. -15. (canceled)

20-33. -33. (canceled)

43. A fiber optic connection system comprising:

a fiber optic adapter having a first axial end portion defining a first adapter port and a second axial end portion defining a second adapter port;

a fiber optic connector having;

a connector housing having an end defining a plug portion sized for insertion into the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter;

a ferrule assembly mounted at least partially within the connector housing, the ferrule assembly including a ferrule located at the plug portion of the connector housing;

a sealing member mounted about an exterior of the connector housing;

the fiber optic connector being inserted into the first adapter port in an inward direction and being removed from the first adapter port in an outward direction;

the fiber optic connector and the fiber optic adapter including mating threads for retaining the fiber optic connector within the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter; and

the fiber optic connector and the fiber optic adapter including a latch arrangement for retaining the fiber optic connector within the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter, the latch arrangement including first and second retention surfaces that engage one another to retain the fiber optic connector within the first adapter port of the fiber optic adapter, at least the first retention surface being angled to extend radially outwardly relative to a central axis of the fiber optic connector as the first retention surface extends in the inward direction.

44. The fiber optic connection system of claim 43, wherein both the first and second retention surfaces are angled to extend radially outwardly relative to a central axis of the fiber optic connector as the first and second retention surfaces extend in the inward direction.

45. The fiber optic connection system of claim 43, wherein the latch arrangement includes a cantilever arm having a retention tab at which the first retention surface is located.

46. The fiber optic connection system of claim 46, wherein the cantilever arm with the retention tab is carried by the fiber optic connector.