Optical fiber connector with locking mechanism

• US 4,747,656 A
• Filed: 05/09/1986
• Issued: 05/31/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Kazuo, Miyahara, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Healy, Brian M.
• Application Number:
  US06/861,544
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.20, 350/96.15, 350/96.21, 350/96.22, 250/227
• US Class Current: 385/75
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3855 characterised by the method of anchoring or fixing the fibre within the ferrule G02B6/3854 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

An optical connector composed of a plug lock member provided on the end of a light guide pass and a plug attachable to/detachable from the plug lock member, which is characterized by a lock member provided on either the plug lock member or plug to be pressed onto a member to be held, a push member movable in the direction intersecting the attaching/detaching direction of the plug, push portions provided on the push member for pushing the lock member onto the member to be held, and a click mechanism provided on the push member, wherein when the member to be held is pressed by the lock member the click mechanism operates to lock the push member, whereby its locked state is maintained stable and can not be released even subjected to continuous vibration or pulling force.

Claims

1. An optical connector comprising:

a plug lock member for receiving an optical fiber end inserted along a center axis therein and having at least one engaging portion formed at a first angular position radially outwardly from said center axis;

a plug which is concentrically attachable to and detachable from said plug lock member, said plug including a cylindrical outer push member having one end facing toward said plug lock member and another end opposite therefrom, said one end having at least one push portion formed concentrically and radially outwardly from said center axis, and said other end having at least one click cam formed concentrically and radially outwardly from said center axis; and

a holding member having an inner holding portion for holding an optical fiber end along said central axis therein, at least one engagement portion formed at said first angular position radially outwardly from said center axis at one part of said holding member, and at least one cam portion formed at a second angular position radially outwardly from said center axis at another part of said holding member,

wherein said engaging portion of said plug lock member and said engagement portion of said one part of said holding member, which are located at said first angular position relative to said central axis, become mated in axial locking relationship when said holding member holding said optical fiber end is inserted in said plug lock member, and

wherein said plug is axially attachable on said plug lock member and said holding member inserted therein, and said push member thereof is angularly rotatable so as to rotate said push portion to said first angular position, wherein it presses said engaging portion of said plug lock member and said engagement portion of said holding member tightly in said locking relationship, and simultaneously with said angular rotation of said push member said click cam on the other end thereof is rotated to said second angular position so as to engage said cam portion on said other part of said holding member with a click locking action.

2. An optical connector according to claim 1, wherein said plug includes further fixing portions (12) and a fixing member (11) for fixing said plug on the optical fiber.

3. An optical connector according to claim 1, wherein said plug lock member has a plurality of stepped engaging portions arranged concentrically at spaced first angular positions,

said holding member has a corresponding plurality of shoulder engagement portions arranged concentrically at said spaced first angular positions on a forward part thereof facing said plug locking member, which slide axially and lock onto said stepped engaging portions of said plug lock member, and a plurality of cam portions arranged concentrically at spaced second angular positions, which are the same as said spaced first angular positions, on a rearward part thereof, and

said push member has a corresponding plurality of push portions, having respective push portion tops on which said shoulder engagement portions of said holding member abut and are pressed toward said engaging portions of said plug lock member at said first angular positions, and inclined faces leading to said push portion tops, formed at a forward end thereof facing said plug locking member, and a plurality of click cams, including respective stopper portions spaced therefrom, between which said cam portions of said holding member are snapped in said click locking action at said first angular positions, formed at a rearward end thereof.

4. An optical connector according to claim 1, wherein said plug lock member has a plurality of shoulder engaging portions arranged concentrically at spaced first angular positions,

said holding member has a corresponding plurality of stepped engagement portions arranged concentrically at said spaced first angular positions on a forward part thereof facing said plug locking member, which said shoulder engaging portions of said plug lock member slide axially and lock onto, and a plurality of cam portions arranged concentrically at spaced second angular positions, which are the same as said spaced first angular positions, on a rearward part thereof, and

said push member has a corresponding plurality of push portions, having respective push portion tops on which said shoulder engaging portions of said plug lock member abut and are pressed toward said engagement portions of said holding member at said first angular positions, and inclined faces leading to said push portions tops, formed at a forward end thereof facing said plug locking member, and a plurality of clicks cams, including respective stopper portions spaced therefrom, between which said cam portions of said holding member are snapped in said click locking action at said first angular positions, formed at a rearward end thereof.