Fiber optic cable end connector

• US 5,692,090 A
• Filed: 11/30/1994
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• 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): Bovernick, Rodney B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wise, Robert E.
• Application Number:
  US08/346,732
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 385/75, 385/88, 385/92, 385/136, 385/139
• US Class Current: 385/139
• 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

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 transport cable to a port associated with an 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 clamp housing member adapted to clamp said cable in a secure position so as to provide resistance to longitudinal and rotational forces applied to said cable;

coupling means for releasably coupling said clamp housing member and said cable to said port; and

cable supporting means disposed internal said equipment for supporting said cable within said equipment and being releasably coupled to said coupling means, said cable supporting means including a frame member having a front end and a rear end with a passageway defined therethrough for receiving at least a portion of said cable, said front end of said frame member being releasably coupled to said coupling means to said port, and a support anchor member being releasably coupled to said rear end of said frame member and adapted to anchor said at least one support member associated with said cable.

2. The end connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame member includes at least one opening between said front end and said rear end of said frame member for passing said at least one optic fiber therethrough.

3. The end connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support anchor member defines a passageway therethrough for receiving a center support member associated with said cable and being adapted to anchor said center support member within said channel as said support anchor member is coupled to said rear end of said frame member.

4. The end connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support anchor member defines a passageway therethrough for receiving said at least one optic fiber associated with said cable.

5. The end connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame member is adapted to anchor at least one peripheral support member associated with said cable between said front end of said frame member and a wall portion of said equipment proximate to said port.

6. The end connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support anchor member is adapted to anchor at least one peripheral support member associated with said cable within said passageway defined by said frame member and proximate to said rear end of frame member.

7. The end connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cable supporting means is adapted to ground conductive support members associated with said cable.