Optical fiber connector latching mechanism
First Claim
1. An optical fibre connector comprising a receptacle jack for receiving on at least one side at least one ferrule for supporting an optical fibre, and a plug for optical connection therewith via connection spring means, characterized in that the jack comprises a housing, thrust disengagement means, and latching means;
- and the plug comprises a housing, at least one plug body with at least one ferrule mounted therein for supporting an optical fibre, thrust means to enable insertion of the plug into the jack, and latching means;
whereby the jack latching means cooperate with the plug latching means for retention of the plug body to the jack for optical connection therebetween, and whereby the jack and the plug body are in a static relation during the optical connection, and the plug housing is axially movable over a tolerance absorption distance (T) with respect thereto, this axial movement not influencing the forces generated by the connection spring means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical fibre connector is shown comprising a jack mounted to a mother board and a plug mounted to a daughter board. The plug has a slidable insert retained by thrust lances against a shoulder of the plug housing such that the insert can be inserted into a cavity of the jack. Latches of the jack serve to latch onto ribs of the plug insert so as to butt a ferrule of the plug against a ferrule of the jack resiliently together. Further insertion of the insert into the jack causes ribs to release the thrust lances of the plug insert such that the insert springs rearwards allowing the plug housing to slide forwards without spring resistance, enabling absorption of a certain tolerance in the spacing between the daughter board and the mother board.
377 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An optical fibre connector comprising a receptacle jack for receiving on at least one side at least one ferrule for supporting an optical fibre, and a plug for optical connection therewith via connection spring means, characterized in that the jack comprises a housing, thrust disengagement means, and latching means;
- and the plug comprises a housing, at least one plug body with at least one ferrule mounted therein for supporting an optical fibre, thrust means to enable insertion of the plug into the jack, and latching means;
whereby the jack latching means cooperate with the plug latching means for retention of the plug body to the jack for optical connection therebetween, and whereby the jack and the plug body are in a static relation during the optical connection, and the plug housing is axially movable over a tolerance absorption distance (T) with respect thereto, this axial movement not influencing the forces generated by the connection spring means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
- and the plug comprises a housing, at least one plug body with at least one ferrule mounted therein for supporting an optical fibre, thrust means to enable insertion of the plug into the jack, and latching means;
- 15. A fibre optic connector assembly, comprising a jack, and a plug member which is receivable in said jack in optical engagement therewith, the plug including an inner plug insert which carries a fibre in spring loaded condition therein, and the insert being slidably receivable within an outer housing, the inner body being axially movable within said housing, between a forward position provided by first stop means and a rearward position provided by second stop means, the fibre plug connector being characterized in that said second stop means are releasable to allow said inner body to move axially within said outer housing, to a position beyond said rearward position, thereby allowing said outer housing to move further forward, without undue spring load on said assembly.
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21. A fibre optic connector assembly comprising a receptacle jack having a fibre receiving bore, a plug receiving cavity and latch arms extending forwardly and flanking said plug receiving cavity, and a fibre plug member having an outer housing retaining therein, a fibre insert body, the insert body having a forwardly loaded fibre positioned therein, the outer housing having an opening adjacent to a front face thereof, thereby said latch projections are engageable with a latching shoulder on said plug body, the assembly being characterized in that the outer housing is releasable from said plug body and the insert body is held exclusively by said latch arms, such that the housing is movable further forwardly.
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35. A hybrid connector for forming an electrical and optical interconnection between a base and a mating component where the base is fixed and the mating component is pluggable thereto, the base including a complementary connector including an optical receptacle jack including a housing, thrust disengagement means and latching means said jack being in communication with an optical transmission member, the hybrid connector mounted on the mating component and comprising an electrical connector portion wherein electrical contacts are disposed within a housing for engaging complementary contacts on the base and a fibre plug portion having an outer housing with a cavity therein where an insert having a plug body including an optical ferrule is disposed within the cavity in a slidable and spring biased manner for abutting the jack to establish optical coupling with the optical transmission member;
- the insert further including thrust means to enable insertion of the insert into the jack and latching means that cooperate with the latching means of the receptacle jack for retention of the insert and jack in static relation during the optical connection, where the plug housing is axially moveable over a tolerance absorption distance relative the jack and where this ayial tolerance absorption displacement does not influence the forces generated by the spring biased abuttment.
- View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
Specification