Fiber optic cable end connector having a sealing grommet

• US 5,371,821 A
• Filed: 10/12/1993
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Szegda, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Frank
• Application Number:
  US08/135,459
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 385/69, 385/86, 385/87, 385/56, 385/66, 385/81, 385/139, 385/136
• US Class Current: 385/87
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4248 Feed-through connections for the hermetical passage of fibres through a package wall see provisionally also G02B6/4428
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4277 Protection against electromagnetic interference [EMI], e.g. shielding means shielding of electric apparatus H05K9/00, of instruments G12B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4448 Electro-optic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44785 Cable clamps

Abstract

An end connector for fiber optic transport cables. A cable clamp received within a passageway of a housing which receives the cable is provided to hold the cable in a secured position so as to resist rotational and longitudinal forces applied to the cable. Support coupling units are provided both internal and external the equipment which the cable is to be connected to. The coupling units allow the end connector to be coupled to and decoupled from the equipment without unnecessary rotation of the end connector and cable and without having to remove the cable from the end connector. Grounding components are provided for grounding conductive members associated with the cable so as to prevent damage due to voltage surges and to prevent RF signal leakage.

Claims

1. An end connector for connecting a fiber optic cable to a port associated with a piece of equipment, said cable having at least one optic fiber and at least one other support member surrounded by a jacket, said end connector comprising:

a housing member having a front end and a rear end, said housing member defining a passageway extending from said rear end to said front end for passing said cable therethrough;

coupling means for coupling said housing member to said port;

clamp means received in said passageway and adapted to at least partially surround said cable, said clamp means being adjustable between an expanded state which accommodates movement of said cable with respect to said housing and a constricted state which fixedly secures said cable with respect to said housing;

clamp adjustment means for adjusting said clamp means between said expanded and said constricted states;

a sealing grommet disposed within a recess provided in said clamp adjustment means and adapted to surround a portion of said cable; and

a sealing member releasably coupled within said recess of said clamp adjustment means, said sealing member being arranged to contact said sealing grommet to force said sealing grommet to deform within said recess so as to provide a weather-tight seal around said portion of said cable.

2. An end connector for connecting a fiber optic cable to a port associated with a piece of equipment, said cable having at least one optic fiber surrounded by a jacket, said end connector comprising:

a housing member having a front end and a rear end, said housing member defining a passageway extending from said rear end to said front end for passing said cable therethrough;

coupling means for coupling said housing member to said port;

a cable clamp received in said passageway and adapted to at least partially surround said cable, said cable clamp being displaceable along said passageway between a first position which allows movement of said cable with respect to said housing and a second position which applies a clamping pressure to said cable so as to fixedly secure said cable within said housing;

a clamp engagement member releasably coupled within said passageway at said rear end of said housing member, said clamp engagement member being arranged to contact said cable clamp and to urge said cable clamp to displace to said second position;

a sealing grommet disposed within a recess provided in said clamp engagement member and adapted to surround a portion of said cable; and

a sealing member releasably coupled within said clamp engagement member, said sealing member being arranged to contact said sealing grommet and to force said sealing grommet to deform within said recess so as to provide a weather-tight seal around said portion of said cable.