Optical fiber ferrule assemblies
First Claim
1. A ferrule assembly for terminating an optical fiber comprising:
- an outer ferrule comprising a tubular body wall having front, mating and rear, optical fiber receiving axial ends;
an inner optical fiber clamping ferrule comprising a tubular body having a front, axial end and a rearwardly extending optical fiber clamping portion for receipt in the outer ferrule and defining an axially extending through-passageway, an axial slit extending through the clamping portion dividing the passageway into two opposed groove portions so that a prepared end of an optical fiber can be located in the groove portions extending along the through-passageway and the inner ferrule subsequently force-fitted within the outer ferrule to extend co-axially therewith, wall portions of the inner ferrule body at opposite axial ends of the slit maintaining axially extending portions of both respective opposed surfaces of the slit spaced apart from each other with the slit in open condition so that opposed walls of the groove portions are pressed into gripping engagement with the optical fiber therein by the receipt of the inner ferrule in the outer ferrule retaining the optical fiber centered accurately in the ferrule assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inner, optical fiber core clamping ferrule has an optical fiber clamping portion for receipt in an outer ferrule and defining an axially extending through-passageway, an axial slit extending through the clamping portion divides the passageway into two opposed groove portions receiving a prepared end of an optical fiber extending along the through-passageway. The inner ferrule is force-fitted in the outer ferrule to extend co-axially therewith, with wall portions thereof maintaining the opposed walls of the spaced apart slit in open condition so that opposed walls of the groove portions are pressed into gripping engagement with the optical fiber. The opposed walls of the slit diverge as they extend radially outwardly away from the groove portions. The inner ferrule may be split for the entire length of the through passageway forming two halve hinged together at one end or have open slits formed in an otherwise imperforate tubular wall.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A ferrule assembly for terminating an optical fiber comprising:
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an outer ferrule comprising a tubular body wall having front, mating and rear, optical fiber receiving axial ends; an inner optical fiber clamping ferrule comprising a tubular body having a front, axial end and a rearwardly extending optical fiber clamping portion for receipt in the outer ferrule and defining an axially extending through-passageway, an axial slit extending through the clamping portion dividing the passageway into two opposed groove portions so that a prepared end of an optical fiber can be located in the groove portions extending along the through-passageway and the inner ferrule subsequently force-fitted within the outer ferrule to extend co-axially therewith, wall portions of the inner ferrule body at opposite axial ends of the slit maintaining axially extending portions of both respective opposed surfaces of the slit spaced apart from each other with the slit in open condition so that opposed walls of the groove portions are pressed into gripping engagement with the optical fiber therein by the receipt of the inner ferrule in the outer ferrule retaining the optical fiber centered accurately in the ferrule assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22, 23)
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5. A ferrule assembly for terminating an optical fiber comprising:
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an outer ferrule comprising a tubular body wall having front, mating and rear, optical fiber receiving axial ends; an inner optical fiber clamping ferrule made of plastic material and comprising a tubular body having a front, axial end and a rearward extending optical fiber clamping portion for receipt in the outer ferrule and defining an axially extending through-passageway, an axial slit extending through the clamping portion dividing the body into a pair of optical fiber clamping halves integrally joined together by web hinges extending from the front ends on respective opposite sides of the through-passageway, and dividing the passageway into two opposed groove portions, each clamping half being formed with one of the groove portions so that a prepared end of an optical fiber can be located in the groove portions extending along the through-passageway and the inner ferrule subsequently force-fitted within the outer ferrule to extend co-axially therewith, wall portions of the inner ferrule body at opposite axial ends of the slit maintaining axially extending portions of opposed surfaces of the slit spaced apart from each other with the slit in open condition so that opposed walls of the groove portions are pressed into gripping engagement with the optical fiber therein by the receipt of the inner ferrule in the outer ferrule retaining the optical fiber centered accurately in the ferrule assembly. - View Dependent Claims (6, 24, 25, 26)
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7. A ferrule assembly for terminating an optical fiber comprising:
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an outer ferrule comprising a tubular body wall having front, mating and rear, optical fiber receiving axial ends; an inner optical fiber clamping ferrule comprising a tubular body having a front, axial end and a rearward extending optical fiber clamping portion for receipt in the outer ferrule, and defining an axially extending through-passageway, the clamping portion being formed with two axially spaced clamping sections for clamping a bare optical fiber and sheath, respectively, and being of increased diameters providing radially outwardly protruding interference portions forming interference fits within the outer ferrule, two axially extending slits located in longitudinal spaced apart relation extending through opposite sides of the clamping portion in respective clamping sections dividing the passageway into two opposed groove portions so that a prepared end of an optical fiber can be located in the groove portions extending along the through-passageway and the inner ferrule subsequently force-fitted within the outer ferrule to extend co-axially therewith, wall portions of the inner ferrule body at respective opposite axial ends of each slit maintaining axially extending portions of opposed surfaces of each slit spaced apart from each other with the slit in open condition so that opposed walls of the groove portions of the respective clamping sections are pressed into gripping engagement with the bare optical fiber and sheath therein, respectively, by the receipt of the inner ferrule in the outer ferrule, retaining the optical fiber centered accurately in the ferrule assembly. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 27, 28, 29)
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18. A ferrule assembly for terminating an optical fiber comprising:
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an outer ferrule comprising a tubular body wall having front, mating and rear, optical fiber receiving axial ends; an inner optical fiber clamping ferrule comprising a tubular body having a front, axial end and a rearward extending optical fiber clamping portion for receipt in the outer ferrule and defining an axially extending through-passageway, an axial slit extending through the clamping portion dividing the body into a pair of optical fiber clamping parts and dividing the passageway into two opposed groove portions, each clamping part being formed with one of the groove portions so that a prepared end of an optical fiber can be located in the groove portions extending along the through-passageway and the inner ferrule subsequently force-fitted within the outer ferrule to extend co-axially therewith, and so that opposed walls of the groove portions are pressed into gripping engagement with the optical fiber therein by the receipt of the inner ferrule in the outer ferrule retaining the optical fiber centered accurately in the ferrule assembly, at least one axially extending, fiber retaining section of a groove portion of a clamping part being non-aligned axially both with a remainder of the groove portion of the clamping part in which it is formed and with a fiber retaining section of the groove portion of the other clamping part so that the respective axes of the fiber retaining sections are laterally displaced, and so that, when opposed walls of the groove portions are pressed into gripping engagement with the optical fiber with the fiber retaining sections in opposed overlying relation, longitudinal edges of the fiber retaining sections of respective clamping parts will press opposite sides of optical cladding of the fiber in opposite lateral directions thereby restraining axial movement of the fiber relative to the inner ferrule. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification