FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR

• US 20160349458A1
• Filed: 01/13/2014
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Commscope Telecommunications (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Chris Charles Taylor, David Patrick Murray, Gordon John White, Lei Liu, Zhaoyang Tong
• Inventors: TAYLOR, Chris Charles, MURRAY, David Patrick, WHITE, Gordon John, TONG, Zhaoyang, LIU, Lei
• Granted Patent: US 10,067,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3831 comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/387 Connector plugs comprising two complementary members, e.g. shells, caps, covers, locked together
• 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 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/389 characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on

Abstract

A connector (10) includes two connector portions (12) and a boot (14). Each connector portion (12) includes a ferrule (78) and a latch (18). The latch (18) includes a distal end (24) and a proximal end (22). The latch (18) is pivotable about an intermediate connection portion (26). The boot (14) is mounted to the connector portions (12). The boot (14) moves longitudinally relative to the connector portions (12). The boot (14) causes the distal ends (24) of the latch (18) to pivot toward the ferrule (78) of each connector portion (12) as the boot (14) is moved away from the connector portions (12). Front housings (32) of the connector portions (12) can each be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the ferrule (78) without rotating the ferrule (78) or the boot (14), to change the polarity of the two connector portions (12). The spacing between the two ferrules (78) is adjustable. A holder (96) holds the connector portions (12). The holder (96) includes side slots (98). The connector portions (12) mounted to the holder (96) by moving laterally to the side slots (98). The holder (96) defines an area for receipt of a fiber optic cable (150) when the ferrule (78) is pushed in a direction toward the boot (14).

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

two connector portions each including a ferrule and a latch, each latch including a distal end, and a proximal end, wherein the latch is pivotable about an intermediate connection portion;

a boot mounted to the connector portions, the boot movable longitudinally relative to the connector portions, wherein the boot causes the distal ends of the latch to pivot toward the ferrule of each connector portion as the boot is moved away from the connector portions.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein a front housing of each of the connector portions can each be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the ferrule without rotating the ferrule or the boot, to change the polarity of the two connector portions.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the spacing between the two ferrules is adjustable.

4. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a holder for holding the connector portions, the holder including side slots, the connector portions mounted to the holder by moving laterally to the side slots.

5. The connector of claim 4, wherein the holder defines an area for receipt of a fiber optic cable when the ferrule is pushed in a direction toward the boot.

25. The connector of any of claims 1-24, wherein each connector portion defines an LC connector profile for receipt in an LC adapter.

6. A connector comprising:

two connector portions each including a ferrule and a latch;

a boot mounted to the connector portions, the boot movable longitudinally relative to the connector portions, wherein the boot causes movement of the latches as the boot is moved away from the connector portions;

wherein a front housing of each of the connector portions can each be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the ferrule without rotating the ferrule or the boot, to change the polarity of the two connector portions.

7. The connector of claim 6, wherein the spacing between the two ferrules is adjustable.

8. The connector of claim 6, further comprising a holder for holding the connector portions, the holder including side slots, the connector portions mounted to the holder by moving laterally to the side slots.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the holder defines an area for receipt of a fiber optic cable when the ferrule is pushed in a direction toward the boot.

10. A connector comprising:

two connector portions each including a ferrule and a latch;

a boot mounted to the connector portions, the boot movable longitudinally relative to the connector portions, wherein the boot causes movement of the latches as the boot is moved away from the connector portions;

wherein the spacing between the two ferrules is adjustable.

11. The connector of claim 10, further comprising a holder for holding the connector portions, the holder including side slots, the connector portions mounted to the holder by moving laterally to the side slots.

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein the holder defines an area for receipt of a fiber optic cable when the ferrule is pushed in a direction toward the boot.

13. A connector comprising:

two connector portions each including a ferrule and a latch;

a boot mounted to the connector portions, the boot movable longitudinally relative to the connector portions, wherein the boot causes movement of the latches as the boot is moved away from the connector portions;

a holder for holding the connector portions, the holder including side slots, the connector portions mounted to the holder by moving laterally to the side slots.

14. The connector of claim 13, wherein the holder defines an area for receipt of a fiber optic cable when the ferrule is pushed in a direction toward the boot.

15. A connector comprising:

a connector portion including a ferrule and a latch, the latch including a distal end, and a proximal end, wherein the latch is pivotable about an intermediate connection portion;

a boot mounted to the connector portion, the boot movable longitudinally relative to the connector portion, wherein the boot causes the distal end of the latch to pivot toward the ferrule of the connector portion as the boot is moved away from the connector portion.

16. A connector comprising:

a.) two connector portions each including;

i) a ferrule assembly including a ferrule and a hub mounted together, and a spring, the ferrule assembly including a front sleeve and a rear sleeve, the front and rear sleeves mounted together with the ferrule end protruding and the spring located in an interior area biasing the ferrule toward an extended position;

ii) a front housing mounted to the ferrule assembly to form a front of the connector portion, and including a latch, each latch including a distal end, and a proximal end, wherein the latch is pivotable about an intermediate connection portion, wherein the distal end includes a shoulder for mating with a latching shoulder of an adapter;

b) a holder for holding the connector portions, the holder including side slots, the connector portions mounted to the holder by moving laterally to the side slots, the holder including a rearwardly projecting crimp support;

c) a boot mounted to the holder, the boot movable longitudinally relative to the holder and the connector portions, wherein the boot engages the proximal ends of the latch and causes the distal ends of the latch to pivot toward the ferrule of each connector portion as the boot is moved away from the connector portions.

17. The connector of claim 16, wherein the connector portions can each be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the ferrule without rotating the ferrule or the boot, to change the polarity of the two connector portions.

18. The connector of claim 16, wherein the spacing between the two ferrules is adjustable.

19. The connector of claim 16, wherein the holder defines an area for receipt of a fiber optic cable when the ferrule is pushed in a direction toward the boot.

20. The connector of claim 16, further comprising a clip which holds the two connector portions.

21. The connector of claim 16, wherein the boot includes angled slots on one side of the boot for receiving the proximal ends of the latches.

22. The connector of claim 21, wherein the boot includes angled slots on both sides of the boot for receiving the proximal ends of the latches, as the connector portions are rotated to change polarity without rotating the boot.

23. The connector of claim 16, further comprising a boot return mechanism including a return spring for biasing the boot toward the connector portions.

24. The connector of claim 16, wherein the front housing including the latch is a one piece housing.

26. A connector comprising:

a.) two connector portions each including;

i) a ferrule assembly including a ferrule and a hub mounted together, and a spring, the ferrule assembly including a front sleeve and a rear sleeve, the front and rear sleeves mounted together with the ferrule end protruding and the spring located in an interior area biasing the ferrule toward an extended position;

ii) a front housing mounted to the ferrule assembly to form a front of the connector portion, and including a latch, each latch including a distal end, and a proximal end, wherein the latch is pivotable about an intermediate connection portion, wherein the distal end includes a shoulder for mating with a latching shoulder of an adapter, wherein the front housing including the latch is a one piece housing, wherein the front housing including the latch defines an LC connector profile for receipt in an LC adapter;

b) a holder for holding the connector portions in a parallel arrangement;

c) a boot mounted to the holder, the boot movable longitudinally relative to the connector portions, wherein the boot causes the distal ends of the latch to pivot toward the ferrule of each connector portion as the boot is moved away from the connector portions.