Adapted for interconnecting optical fiber connectors

• US 5,774,612 A
• Filed: 07/25/1997
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Makhlin, Ilya, Belenkiy, Yuriy, Margolin, Mark, Grois, Igor
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanghavi, Hemang
• Application Number:
  US08/900,344
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53, 385/55, 385/56, 385/60, 385/70, 385/72, 385/77, 385/78
• US Class Current: 385/72
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3877 Split sleeves

Abstract

An adapter assembly is provided for interconnecting a pair of opposing optical fiber connectors generally along an optical axis. A unitary adapter housing has an axial cavity extending in a direction between opposite ends thereof. One end of the housing has a first interconnection operatively associated with a first one of the air of opposing optical fiber connectors. A unitary insert is mounted in the axial cavity of the adapter housing and includes a second interconnection operatively associated with the second of the pair of opposing optical fiber connectors at the opposite end of the housing.

Claims

1. An adapter assembly for interconnecting a FC-type optical fiber connector to a SC-type optical fiber connector generally along an optical axis, each connector including an axially projecting ferrule, and the adapter assembly being constructed as a double-ended receptacle for receiving the connectors at opposite ends thereof, comprising:

a unitary, one piece adapter housing having an axial cavity extending in a direction between opposite ends of the housing, one end of the housing having a screw-type connection for interconnection with the FC-type optical fiber connector, and the opposite end of the adapter housing being open for providing an access into the cavity; and

a unitary, one piece insert being insertable through said opposite end of the housing so as to be mounted in the axial cavity of the adapter housing and including a push-pull-type connection for interconnection with the SC-type optical fiber connector inserted through said opposite open end of the adapter housing.

2. The adapter assembly of claim 1, including complementary interengaging snap-latch means between the insert and the adapter housing for latching the insert in the axial cavity upon insertion of the insert into the cavity.

3. The adapter assembly of claim 1, including a sleeve mounted axially in said unitary insert for receiving and coaxially aligning the ferrules of the FC-type optical fiber connector and the SC-type optical fiber connector.