TRUE ONE PIECE HOUSING FIBER OPTIC ADAPTER

• US 20140023322A1
• Filed: 09/23/2013
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SENKO Advanced Components, Inc. (SENKO Group Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: SENKO Advanced Components, Inc. (SENKO Group Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: GNIADEK, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 9,188,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/56
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/38 having fibre to fibre mating means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence

Abstract

A fiber optic adapter includes a one piece housing, and the exterior of the housing includes at least one latch for retaining the housing in a panel opening, and at least one projecting wing for reducing play between the housing and the sides of the panel opening into which the adapter may be installed.

Claims

1. A fiber optic adapter configured to be mounted in an opening in a mounting panel, the adapter comprising a one-piece housing having at least one first resilient member configured for engaging with the panel to reduce play in a first direction when mounted in the opening, and at least one second resilient member configured for engaging with the panel to reduce play in a second direction when mounted in the opening, with the second direction being transverse to the first direction.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein:

the one-piece housing has a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end, and defines a longitudinal axis through the first and second ends;

at least one of the first end and the second end is configured for being inserted into an opening of a mounting panel in an insertion direction parallel to the longitudinal axis; and

the first and second directions are orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

3. The adapter of claim 2, wherein:

the opening in a mounting panel is rectangular and defined by first and second pairs of opposite edges of a panel wall, the opening having a first cross-sectional configuration; and

the one-piece housing has an exterior surface and defines a second cross-sectional configuration orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second cross-sectional configuration of the housing is configured to fit within the first cross-sectional configuration of the opening with play between the exterior surface of the housing and the first and second pairs of opposite edges of the opening.

4. The adapter of claim 3, wherein:

the second cross-sectional configuration of the housing is rectangular;

the one-piece housing comprises first and second pairs of opposing side walls defining the exterior surface;

at least one side wall of the first pair of opposing side walls comprises the at least one first resilient member; and

at least one side wall of the second pair of opposing side walls comprises the at least one second resilient member.

5. The adapter of claim 4, wherein:

the one-piece housing fits within the opening with the first pair of opposing side walls adjacent a first pair of opposite edges of the opening, and the second pair of opposing side walls adjacent a second pair of opposite edges of the opening;

the opening defines a first cross-sectional dimension between the first pair of opposite edges, and a second cross-sectional dimension between the second pair of opposite edges;

the one-piece housing defines a third cross-sectional dimension between the first pair of opposing side walls, and a fourth cross-sectional dimension between the second pair of opposing side walls; and

the third cross-sectional dimension is less than the first cross-sectional dimension and the fourth cross-sectional dimension is less than the second cross-sectional dimension.

6. The adapter of claim 5, wherein:

the at least one first resilient member comprises at least one first resilient flange having a first end integral with the one-piece housing and a second end disposed away from the at least one side wall of the first pair of opposing side walls, the second end is disposed a first distance from the at least one side wall, and the first distance plus the third cross-sectional dimension is greater than the first cross-sectional dimension; and

the at least one second resilient member comprises at least one second resilient flange having a first end integral with the one-piece housing and a second end disposed away from the at least one side wall of the second pair of opposing side walls, the second end is disposed a second distance from the at least one side wall, and the second distance plus the fourth cross-sectional dimension is greater than the second cross-sectional dimension.

7. The adapter of claim 6, wherein:

each of the at least one first resilient flange and the at least one second resilient flange is configured to be depressed inwardly by a corresponding adjacent edge of the opening upon insertion of the one-piece housing into the opening in the insertion direction; and

each of the at least one first resilient flange and the at least one second resilient flange is configured to apply an outward biasing force to the corresponding edge upon being depressed inwardly.

8. The adapter of claim 7, wherein:

each side wall of the first pair of opposing side walls comprises at least one first resilient flange; and

each side wall of the second pair of opposing side walls comprises at least one second resilient flange.

9. The adapter of claim 8, wherein each side wall of the first pair of opposing side walls comprises one first resilient flange, and each first resilient flange comprises a resilient latching member configured to engage the corresponding adjacent edge of the opening to latch the one-piece housing to the panel.

10. The adapter of claim 8, wherein each side wall of the second pair of opposing side walls has a first edge disposed adjacent a side wall of the first pair of opposing side walls, and a second edge disposed adjacent the other of the side walls of the first pair of opposing side walls, and each side wall of the second pair of opposing side walls comprises two second resilient flanges with each of the two second resilient flanges being disposed spaced apart from one another towards the first and second edges.

11. The adapter of claim 10, wherein each of the two second resilient flanges are disposed adjacent one of the first and second edges.

12. The adapter of claim 11, wherein:

each side wall of the first pair of opposing side walls comprises one first resilient flange, and each first resilient flange comprises a resilient latching member configured to engage the corresponding adjacent edge of the opening to latch the one-piece housing to the panel;

the one piece housing additionally comprises;

a first alignment cylinder integral with the housing and configured to receive a first optic fiber, and

at least one snap receiving recess; and

the adapter further comprises;

a dual connector latch comprising;

a second alignment cylinder configured to receive a second optic fiber, and

at least one snap feature configured to engage within the snap receiving recess such that the connector latch locks within the housing; and

an alignment sleeve configured to be placed within the first alignment cylinder and the second alignment cylinder, wherein the alignment sleeve is positioned prior to the dual connector latch being locked into the housing.

13. A fiber optic adapter configured to be mounted through an opening in a panel, the opening having at least a first pair of opposite sides defining a first cross-sectional dimension, and a second pair of opposite sides defining a second cross-sectional dimension, the second cross-sectional dimension being transverse to the first cross-sectional dimension, and the adaptor comprising:

a one piece housing defining a longitudinal dimension and having an external surface defining an external shape configured to fit into the panel opening, the housing comprising;

at least one resilient latching member extending from the external surface of the housing and configured for engaging the panel to latch the housing to the panel and eliminate play between the housing and the first pair of opposite sides; and

at least one second resilient member extending from the housing and configured for engaging the panel to eliminate play between the housing and the second pair of opposite sides.

14. The adapter of claim 13, wherein the opening is rectangular and the housing further comprises:

a first pair of opposite sides for being disposed adjacent corresponding ones of the sides of the first pair of opposites sides of the opening, and at least one side of the first pair of opposite sides of the housing comprises the at least one resilient latching member;

a second pair of opposite sides for being disposed adjacent corresponding ones of the sides of the second pair of opposites sides of the opening, and at least one side of the second pair of opposite sides of the housing comprises the at least one second resilient member; and

the first pair of opposite sides is disposed orthogonally to the second pair of opposite sides to define an external rectangular shape corresponding to the rectangular opening.

15. The adapter of claim 14, wherein:

the one-piece housing has an insertion direction for being inserted into the opening;

the at least one resilient member comprises at least one second resilient flange having a first end integral with the one-piece housing and extending angularly away from the one-piece housing in a direction opposite the insertion direction to a second end disposed away from the at least one side of the second pair of opposite sides;

the at least one second resilient flange is configured to be depressed inwardly by a corresponding adjacent side of the opening upon insertion of the one-piece housing into the opening in the insertion direction; and

the at least one second resilient flange is configured to apply an outward biasing force to the corresponding adjacent side upon being depressed inwardly.