Connector member and extraction tool

• US 3,995,363 A
• Filed: 11/17/1975
• Issued: 12/07/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ITT Corporation (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation
• Inventors: Medina, Jose M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Jr., James L.
• Application Number:
  US05/632,232
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 29/235, 29/278, 29/280, 29/200 D, 29/200 H, 29/203 H, 29/203 HM, 29/203 B, 83/167, 83/618
• US Class Current: 29/280
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/14 for assembling objects other than by press fit or detaching same
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3846 with fibre stubs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• 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 6/3898 Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53222 Means comprising hand-manipulatable implement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53952 Tube sleeve or ferrule applying or removing

Abstract

A fiber optic connector member having a removable front insulator for protecting the faces of fiber optic bundles mounted within the connector. The insulator is retained within the connector shell by resilient retention fingers. An elongated slot extends through the insulator. An extraction tool is provided for releasing the retention fingers. The tool embodies a pulling element that extends through the slot in the insulator to allow the insulator to be withdrawn from the connector shell without damaging the fiber optic elements therein.

Claims

1. A tool for releasing and removing a support member from the front end of a connector shell containing a resilient support member-retention finger extending inwardly and rearwardly from the wall of said shell, with an elongated slot opening at the front face of said support member comprising:

a shaft having a forward end and a rear end;

a handle adjacent to said rear end and a transversely extending elongated arm fixed to said shaft adjacent to said forward end of said shaft, said forward end and arm being dimensioned to slide through said slot;

an element mounted on said shaft adjacent to said forward end, said element being rotatable about the axis of said shaft; and

said element having a forwardly extending leg generally parallel to and spaced from said shaft, said leg terminating in a forward free end, the distance between said leg and arm corresponding to the distance between said slot and retention finger.

2. A tool as set forth in claim 1 including:

means biasing said element forwardly on said shaft.

3. A tool as set forth in claim 2 including:

a retaining ring on said shaft in front of said element; and

said biasing means comprises a coil spring surrounding said shaft and extending between said element and said handle.

4. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said element has a generally U-shaped configuration defining a pair of said legs, the base of said U-shaped element having an opening therein rotatably receiving said shaft.

5. A tool as set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said legs of said element are generally flat and parallel to each other.

6. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said arm extends transversely to opposite sides of said shaft.

7. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said arm is located at the terminal forward end of said shaft and extends transversely to opposite sides of said shaft, said arm having a configuration generally complementary to that of said elongated slot.

8. A tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said arm is devoid of any forwardly extending structure thereon.