Floating bottleneck for multiple position fiber optic receptacle

• US 5,563,971 A
• Filed: 04/28/1995
• Issued: 10/08/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Abendschein, Frederic H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US08/431,213
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 385/52, 385/53, 385/55, 385/56, 385/59, 385/60, 385/66, 385/70, 385/71, 385/72, 385/76, 385/77, 385/78, 385/84, 385/139
• US Class Current: 385/55
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3875 Floatingly supported sleeves

Abstract

A multiple position fiber optic receptacle comprises a first receptacle member (1) joined to a second receptacle member (3). Captivated within and between the first and second receptacle members (1,3) is a coupling mechanism (17), an alignment sleeve (5), and a floating bottleneck (6). The floating bottleneck (6) permits independent adjustments of each alignment sleeve (5) relative to a ferrule to minimize the insertion force associated with ferrule to alignment sleeve misalignment. In an alternate embodiment, a floating bottleneck is removable permitting repair of the receptacle.

Claims

1. A fiber optic receptacle comprising:

a receptacle shell having a reception passage therethrough,

a bottleneck floatably received within said receptacle shell, and

an alignment sleeve held at least partially within said bottleneck.

2. A fiber optic receptacle as in claim 1 wherein said receptacle shell comprises multiple reception passages (2,4) therethrough.

3. A fiber optic receptacle as in claim 1 wherein said receptacle shell comprises a first receptacle member (1) and a second receptacle member (3) ultrasonically welded together.

4. A fiber optic receptacle as in claim 1 wherein said bottleneck (6) comprises a reception member (7) and a retention collar (8) thereon.

5. A fiber optic receptacle as in claim 1 wherein said bottleneck (6) floats with respect to said reception passage (2,4) by virtue of a clearance between an inner circumference of said reception passage (2,4) and an outer periphery of said bottleneck (6).

6. A fiber optic receptacle as in claim 1 wherein an entrance (9) to said bottleneck is bevelled (10).

7. A fiber optic receptacle as in claim 1 wherein said bottleneck (6) comprises a latch member (14) retaining said bottleneck within said receptacle shell (1,3).

8. A fiber optic receptacle as in claim 7 wherein said bottleneck (6) comprises a plurality of said latch members (14).

9. A fiber optic receptacle as in claim 7 wherein said bottleneck (6) further comprises channels (15) on a periphery of said reception member (7).

10. A fiber optic receptacle as in claim 9 wherein said channels (15) are axially aligned with said latch members (14).