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Monolithic optical fiber coupler including sleeve with flexible flap

  • US 5,737,464 A
  • Filed: 08/31/1995
  • Issued: 04/07/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A monolithic coupler for coupling optical fiber connectors, each optical fiber connector having a ferrule extending from a connector housing, the coupler comprising:

  • (a) a sleeve portion having a generally sleeve-shaped wall with a first end and a second end opposite thereto, the wall defining a passageway extending there through in a longitudinal direction from the first end to the second end, the passageway sized for receiving and operatively aligning the ends of each of each of the ferrules in an end to end abutting relation at a point in the passageway, the sleeve portion further defines at least one cut-out through the wall so as to create at least one flexible flap in the wall that bears against the ferrules when the ferrules are disposed in the passageway of the sleeve portion;

    (b) a first spacer portion and a second spacer portion extending from opposite sides of the sleeve portion at a midpoint along the sleeve portion and in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sleeve portion;

    (c) a first latch portion extending in opposite directions from the first spacer portion so as to be spaced from and extending generally parallel with the sleeve portion, the first latch portion having a first end with a first projection and a second end opposite thereto with a second projection, the first and second projections engageable with the connector housings; and

    (d) a second latch portion extending in opposite directions from the second spacer portion so as to be spaced from and extending generally parallel with the sleeve portion, the second latch portion having a first end with a third projection and a second end opposite thereto with a fourth projection, the third and fourth projections engageable with the connector housings.

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